Summary of Weekly Press Briefing

By the Director-General of Department of Information / MFA Spokesperson

On 18 July 2025 at 11.00 hrs.

MFA Press Conference Room and MFA FB LIVE / TikTok LIVE

1. Minister of Foreign Affairs to attend the 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York

• Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is scheduled to lead the Thai delegation to attend the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) from 21 - 23 July 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
  
  
• This annual forum is a key global platform to review, follow up, and accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among the global community. The forum will bring together ministerial and high-level representatives of governments, as well as a wide range of expertise and stakeholders, including UN entities, academics and civil society from around the world.
  
  
• The main program of the Foreign Minister at the forum is presenting Thailand’s 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR) alongside the Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) and a representative from the SDG Move Center, Thammasat University.
  
  
• This will be the third time that Thailand presents the VNR at the HLPF. This year’s VNR will highlight: (1) statistical analyses reflecting Thailand’s progress on SDGs over the past decade; (2) best practices to drive SDG implementation on the ground; and (3) challenges and strategies for accelerating efforts in the remaining five years of the 2030 Agenda, drawing on assessments from government and various sectors.
  
  
• In addition, the Foreign Minister will also deliver a statement at the United Nations Security Council’s Open Debate, reaffirming Thailand’s commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes in the international context.
  
  
• The Foreign Minister’s participation in this year’s HLPF reflects Thailand’s strong commitment toward multilateralism and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and also presents an important opportunity to highlight Thailand’s tangible achievements in sustainable development. It is also an opportunity to forge international cooperation that benefits the Thai people at large.
  
  
• On 24 July 2025, the Foreign Minister will participate in the High-Level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), following the HLPF meeting. He will deliver statements on the themes “UN at 80: The Role of ECOSOC in Leading Action for a Stronger and More Effective Multilateral System” and “Global Trends and Their Future Impacts: Globalization and International Cooperation in a Transforming World.”
  
  
• The Foreign Minister’s participation in this ECOSOC High-Level Segment will further enhance Thailand’s visibility within this framework, particularly in view of Thailand’s candidature for ECOSOC membership for the 2029 - 2031 term. This engagement will further underscore Thailand’s leadership in advancing sustainable development and will contribute to strengthening its active participation in other multilateral fora.

2. The launch of the Hackathon project activity “Farming the Future: Advancing Thai Agriculture through Innovation”, on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the establishment of Thai - Norwegian diplomatic relations.

• Krongkanit Rakcharoen, Director-General of the Department of European Affairs, and H.E. Mrs. Astrid Emilie Helle, Ambassador of Norway to Thailand, jointly briefed the press on the launch of the Hackathon project activity “Farming the Future: Advancing Thai Agriculture through Innovation” to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the establishment of Thai - Norwegian diplomatic relations. The project builds on past cooperation with a new initiative that is driven by technology, innovation, and the creative energy of the younger generation to advance the future of Thailand’s agricultural sector.
  
  
• This project has been made possible through the joint efforts of the Department of European Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yara Thailand, Kasetsart University, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bangkok. It provides a valuable platform for university students across Thailand to demonstrate and strengthen their potential by developing prototypes or innovations that can be further promoted into marketable products, while also fostering collaboration among academia, the private sector, and government agencies to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of Thailand’s agricultural industry.

Watch the full session at: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1UnYQdwamS/

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