Thailand Hosts IMF-World Bank Annual Meeting Amid Global Shifts
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul opened the IMF‑World Bank Annual Meeting in Bangkok, urging global cooperation to address economic integration, geopolitical tensions, climate change, and technological change under the theme “Thailand’s New Horizons.” He highlighted Thailand’s historic role as a trade and cultural crossroads and stressed that the outcomes should strengthen regional links, boost investment, and improve livelihoods for all.
Speaking at the plenary session, Anutin noted that Thailand has long been a meeting point for peoples and cultures, dating back to the Ayutthaya era when it served as a thriving hub of trade and diplomacy linking East and West. He said this spirit of connection has persisted, pointing out that Thailand previously hosted a similar gathering in 1991 as the world moved toward deeper economic integration. Thirty‑five years later, the country welcomes the global community again to the same venue, which was originally built for this purpose, though today’s world is vastly different—fax machines once signaled speed, while artificial intelligence now reshapes daily life and economic activity.
He added that while environmental protection was once an emerging concern, climate change has become a central challenge requiring collective response. The conference’s theme, “Thailand’s New Horizons: Empowering People, Building Resilience,” reflects a vision for Thailand and all participants to strengthen adaptive capacity through trusted connections, access to technology, finance, and mutual learning. The outcomes of the 1991 meeting continue to influence policy, and the convention center stands as a reminder of that legacy.
Anutin stressed that this pivotal moment calls for international dialogue to tackle global shifts, with the aim of linking regional partners, capital with opportunity, and technology with human capacity to boost trade, investment, and joint development. He emphasized that connections must reach ordinary people, support business growth, enhance workforce skills, and improve everyday life, ensuring communities share in the benefits of economic change.
He pledged to work with the IMF, World Bank, and all partners to turn discussions into cooperation, transform finance into opportunity, and guarantee that decisions made here lead to prosperity for the Thai people. Reflecting on history, he noted that Ayutthaya once linked the world to Bangkok, and expressed hope that in another 35 years nations will reunite with the shared goal of making the global economy serve humanity.
