Vietnam says UN Security Council reform is urgent

Addressing a UN General Assembly meeting in New York on November 17, Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang noted over the years, the UNSC has acted on challenges while maintaining a large workload even during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, according to the diplomat, the reform of the Security Council is increasingly urgent amid recent global complications.

To do this, the head of the Vietnamese delegation to the UN suggested the Security Council increase the number of both permanent and non-permanent members to ensure fair representation for regional groups, especially for underrepresented groups of countries, including developing countries.

In addition, he also said that it is necessary to improve the working method of the UNSC by limiting the use of veto power to measures specified in Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

In the current context, the Security Council also needs to strengthen discussions and decision-making on emerging security issues that directly threaten international peace and security, including climate change, said the diplomat.

Representatives of participating countries underscored the urgent need to reform the Security Council in order to carry out the task of maintaining world peace and security in the context that the world is facing more challenges than ever. They reiterated the proposal to reform the Security Council, which was voiced by nearly 70 senior leaders and many other representatives of UN member countries at the 77th UN General Assembly High-Level Week in September 2022.

The countries also welcomed the 77th UN General Assembly President’s decision to soon appoint a new co-chair for the Intergovernmental Negotiations Framework (IGN) to promote discussion on this issue.