At the NAM Senior Officials Meeting on September 11, delegates affirmed their strong determination to unite and strive for the common goal of the organisation for a more just and fairer world. Attending the meeting, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Van Bang said Vietnam will make active contributions to the agenda of the summit to ensure its success. He said Vietnam will coordinate closely with Cuba and other NAM members to build on the organisation’s strength and protect the interests of all nations.

NAM was founded when the national liberation movement reached a climax and the cold war could spark a new world war. It helped cause the old colonialism to collapse. Its policy of non-alignment demonstrated the goodwill of all countries which had just gained independence in Asia, Africa and Latin America to unite in the struggle for political and economic independence and for the defence of global peace, co-existence and development.

The organisation now has 116 member countries from just 25 at the beginning, making up nearly two thirds of total seats of the United Nations, and has approximately 3.3 billion people, representing 51 percent of the world’s population. It is also the core of the group of 77 developing economies (G77). All NAM member countries, except Belarus and Uzbekistan, are members of G77.

Despite a diverse range of cultures and beliefs, socio-political institutions and national interests, NAM countries have many things in common. Having experienced a certain period of its colonialist domination and a low level of development, they all cherish peace and stability to build the nation and escape poverty and underdevelopment.

The Non-Aligned Movement has made considerable contributions to the struggle against nuclear war threats for the sake of peace and international security, disarmaments and establishment of a peaceful and nuclear free zone. It has also supported the struggle for national liberation and independence, striving for the establishment of a new world economic and informative order, as well as contributing to settling disputes and conflicts among member countries through peaceful means.

In the current context, NAM continues to play an irreplaceable role as a strong political force and an important forum for non-aligned countries to raise their common voice against global important issues of peace, security and development. Currently, the organisation shows its interest in such major issues as peace, security, disarmament, independence, self-reliance and self-determination right of all nations. During its summits, the organisation discusses and releases declarations on newly-emerging issues in the region.

Before and after joining the organisation, Vietnam has made important contributions to the struggle of all non-aligned and developing countries. After gaining independence in 1945, Vietnam was a pioneer in the national liberation movement, contributing to eliminating colonialism and fighting imperialism.

Since its admission to the organisation, Vietnam has attended all NAM summits and Foreign Ministerial Meetings, closely cooperated with progressive forces to promote solidarity, heighten the organisation’s role and strive for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress.

Vietnam attaches importance to its participation in the Non-Aligned Movement, considering it as part of its external policy of openness, multilaterlisation and diversification of relationship so as to boost its bilateral, regional and international relations.

With its tremendous achievements recorded in the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, Vietnam is expected to make more contributions to the common development of all non-aligned and developing countries.

The 14^th NAM summit is expected to prioritise measures to consolidate solidarity, and together with other organisations, build an international financial and trading system in a more democratic and effective manner and speed up the implementation of Millennium Development Goals to ensure the movement serves as a foundation for developing countries to build a better world of justice and fairness.