On October 24th 2025, Thailand and United Nations were celebrating the 80th anniversary of UN today. The event took place at Siam Paragon and among the guests were representatives from the Thai Government, ambassadors from several embassies, guests from the private sector and friends.
Mrs. Michaela Friberg Storey, Representative of the UN Secretary-General and UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand opened the presentation with a warmhearted speech welcoming the audience and, reaffirming UN support for Thailand’s priorities.
“Thailand’s progress towards the SDGs is driven by the determination and resilience of its people,” she said.
The title of the event was “30 Stories, 17 goals, One road to 2030.” Those words stand as a testament to the power of partnership, the spirit and “the people’s” act together.
Mrs. Michaela pointed out at several times how important it is that all work together to reach the goals. With all of us working together, a real change can be made, for the people, by the people and with communities.
This year’s commemoration echoes the UN Secretary-General’s call for the whole world to stand together and renew the promise of the UN.
After Mrs. Michaela’s speech the Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, khun Sarun Charoensuwan took the stage and on behalf of the Royal Thai Government, he extended his congratulations on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.
He pointed out what an important role the UN has played, and does play, in promoting peace and security, advancing sustainable development, and upholding dignity for people around the world.
He expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the United Nations for all its efforts, and for its partnership with Thailand in advancing the well-being of the Thai people, the protection of our planet, the promoting of peace, prosperity, and a close partnership.
He also reaffirmed Thailand’s role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and its long-standing commitment as a host to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and various entities based in Thailand.
A special photo exhibition by the UN, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affaires features 30 stories from across Thailand, highlighting the resilience and creativity of people and communities that with UN partnerships and programs have helped to build a more sustainable future.
This morning three Thai persons were asked to come on stage and tell their own story and among those thirty khun Salma Gadae from Yala, who found a second chance at education through the Learning Coin for Equitable Education initiative of the United Nations scholarships. She told how she was able to strengthen her Thai literacy and how she became a leader who preserves her community’s cultural heritage. From not having been a big reader to a dedicated reader.
Second out to tell her story was khun Sarocha Kittisiripan, a social entrepreneur with visual impairment, founded PaperyBfly and also produce podcasts with support from United nationas development Program (UNDP’s) Youth Co:Lab initiative. She managed to turn her personal journey into social innovation that helps create jobs and challenges stereotypes.
The last one to tell his story was Khun Sumitr Srivisut. He’s a farmer and a community leader from Nakhon Si Thammarat. He has been able to learned more advanced and sustainable techniques in farming through collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to increase productivity and income while also protecting and sharing knowledge within his community.
It’s a pleasure to hear how the Thai people, with a little help, can achieve so much.
The launch this morning was attended by Member States representatives from the diplomatic corps, together with senior government officials, UN agencies, UN Goodwill Ambassadors, including Cindy Bishop and Alex Rendell, partners from the private sector academia, civil society and of course, a lot of Media.
