“The United Nations needs to adapt to meet the challenges of the VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) environment to fulfil its noble mission of peace and security, development, and human rights,” he said on the last day of speeches by delegation leaders to the Assembly’s annual debate, which has seen scores of presidents and prime ministers lay out their vision for the future.

Declaring that Thailand has been actively translating principles enshrined in the UN Charter into practices, to promote peace and security, to foster sustainable development, and to safeguard human rights, Virasakdi cited Thai participation in 20 peacekeeping and related missions since 1950 and highlighted his country’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

He noted Thailand’s efforts to improve health, human rights and economic development, mitigate natural and manmade disasters, clean up oceans, and promote, and promote public-private partnerships in facing multiple challenges.

“We support the Secretary-General’s commitment to forge stronger linkages between peace, security and sustainable development, as we believe that it is indeed the economic and social development of the communities, and of the people, that stands at the centre of sustaining peace,” he declared, calling for reforms to make the UN Security Council more representative, more inclusive and more democratic.