Remarks by Mr. Phuchphop Mongkolnavin, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

At Chula MUN 2024 on 29 March 2024, 09.30 hrs, Chaloem Rajakumari 60 Building (Chamchuri 10)

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Distinguished guests,
Chula MUN delegates,

1. I would like to express my appreciation for inviting me to 7^th Chula MUN this year. As career diplomat, I was once posted to the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the UN in New York more than twenty years ago. My experience has made me a firm believer in multilateralism, international cooperation and the role of the UN in bringing about the well-being of our peoples and the planet. So, it is always a pleasure for me to speak about the UN, international relations, and Thai diplomacy to the public, especially to the future generation, bright young minds like yours.
2. The UN is a gathering of different players with different interests and positions. It is a dynamic place that Member States can drive the conversations, build trust to bridge their differences, and create international cooperation for mutual benefits and common interests. When I heard about the theme of the Chula MUN this year, “Human Security for Sustainability and Resilient Future”, it does sound like a real meeting at the UN.
3. Human security, sustainability and resilience have been pertinent questions in global conversations for years. They will be one of the highlight issues at the Summit of the Future in September this year, together with the questions on how we can reinvigorate the UN and multilateral system so that they are fit for purpose and can effectively respond to the challenges of today and the future

Distinguished guests,
Chula MUN delegates,

4. We are at a point where the world is now closely connected. Current multiple transboundary challenges, from the pandemic to climate change and energy security, are beyond the capacity and capability of one country to fix. This is where multilateral organizations like the UN can play a very important role in bringing every country together, facilitating discussions, and addressing these challenges and these growing tensions of geopolitics.
5. The issues that you are going to discuss today within the WHO and UNEP, like health security, climate finance, energy transition, and gender inequality, are therefore timely. Moreover, since you will soon inherit this world today, it is imperative for your generations to have collective responsibility and participate in today’s conversations on important matters. So that you can shape our future, which is also your future. As you’ve heared from the secretary general, he prepare to give more voice to the youth in international arena, the UN therefore established the UN Youth Office to promote meaningful participation of young people in the UN system. That is the spirit of the UN and the power of multilateralism.

Chula MUN delegates,

6. Today’s experience will help you realize that the UN has an important impact on all of us. And I hope that some of you will follow the path of diplomacy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand is the main government agency representing Thailand in the UN platforms. We have our talented diplomats stationed in the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the UN in New York, in Geneva, in Vienna and Nairobi. If you are interested to participate in the UN discussions for 3 weeks in New York, I encourage you to apply for Thailand Youth Delegate to the UNGA program, all sponsored by the MFA Thailand. The official announcement about this program will released on MFA Facebook soon so watch out.
7. Lastly, I wish all of you success, and gratifying experience. I trust that Chula MUN this year will prepare you to become responsible global citizens ones who can make this world a better place and giving it a brighter and more resilient Thank you

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