Vietnam participates more deeply in UN peacekeeping operations

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien made the statement during a reception held on August 12 in Hanoi for Pauline Tamesis resident coordinator of the UN in Vietnam.

Deputy Minister Chien emphasised that this year is of great significance as it will mark the 45th anniversary of the country’s participation in the UN.

History shows that Vietnam has closely co-ordinated with international organisations, especially the UN, in order to carry out a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, diversification, and being a responsible member of the wider international community.

The Deputy Minister also acknowledged the goodwill and co-operation of the UN and their competent agencies in Vietnam in the past, especially the role of the Office of the Resident Coordinator when Vietnam took on the role of ASEAN Chair in 2020. As well as when the country served as a non-permanent member of the UN Nations Security Council from 2020 to 2021.

He therefore thanked the UN and relevant agencies for working closely with the nation to successfully carry out many activities relating to the settlement of historic conflicts, particularly programmes and projects dealing with unexploded ordnances and toxic chemicals, with these having positive outcomes.

The official said he hopes the UN will continue co-ordinating with the Defence Ministry in war aftermath settlement activities through financial and technical aid, capacity building, experience sharing, and database building.

Since the country officially engaged in UN peacekeeping forces in 2014, it has successfully deployed over 500 personnel to peacekeeping missions and to the UN headquarters. It also became the first nation in Southeast Asia to conduct three training courses on heavy engineering equipment under the Vietnam - UN - Japan trilateral partnership programme, receiving great feedback from UN leaders.

Most notably, Vietnam has always maintained a rate of female participation in peacekeeping operations higher than average, as well as making pledges to maintain and increase the rate to over 20% by 2025, according to Deputy Minister Chien.

Moving forward, the nation will further become involved in UN peacekeeping operations, including sending personnel to more missions and diversifying participation forms, he noted, adding that it plans to deploy police to aid in operations.

The official requested that the global body maintain its support for Vietnamese commitments and political resolve as it joins peacekeeping operations, as well as offering the best possible conditions to further ramp up co-operation in this regard.

In response, Tamesis hailed Vietnamese efforts, especially its military and police forces, in bringing the COVID-19 pandemic under control.

The UN will assist the Vietnamese Government and people to secure the best possible post-pandemic socio-economic recovery, as well as meeting healthcare-related demands, she went on to add.

The official said she recently had the honour of signing the Strategic Framework for Sustainable Development Cooperation with the Vietnamese Government, describing it as a very important document which outlines the UN’s strategy and assistance priorities for the country over the next five years. The document also underscored the UN’s role in helping the country recover after the pandemic and ensure that no one is left behind.

The Resident Coordinator applauded Vietnamese achievements in joining UN peacekeeping operations, including the high rate of female participation, noting that the UN pledges to continue assistance in this field.

The UN also greatly values Vietnam sending police officers to peacekeeping operations, including three to the mission in South Sudan and one to the Police Division in New York, Tamesis said.