Turning commitments into actions
Becoming a member of the U.N., Vietnam has consistently upheld the role of the organization and multilateralism, as well as paid the respect for international law, the U.N. Charter, equality in relations, development cooperation among countries and the national self-determination. The country has also committed to opposing acts of oppression, aggression and unilateral embargo in international relations. These strong commitments of Vietnam have been demonstrated by the country's specific actions as a member of this multilateral mechanism.
Vietnam has participated in the discussion and approval of important resolutions and declarations of the United Nations on development cooperation, disarmament, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, anti-terrorism, and human rights.
Vietnam joined the Convention on Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (CWC) in 1998, participated in negotiation and was one of the first countries to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996, and became a member of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in the same year.
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Vietnam has sent 169 officers to U.N. peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and the Central African Republic. |
Besides, Vietnam has actively implemented the U.N.'s goals and programs and achieved various encouraging results. It is considered by the U.N. and the international community as an outstanding example in implementing the Millennium Development Goals, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Vietnam has also promoted the U.N.'s reform initiatives, and it was considered among the leaders in implementing the Delivering As One initiative to enhance the effectiveness of U.N. operational activities at the national level.
Vietnam has proactively addressed regional and international peace and security issues, and promoted human rights. It has cooperated with U.N. human rights mechanisms, protected National Reports under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and other reports on implementing the international conventions on human rights.
Notably, Vietnam is a standing candidate for a member of the U.N. Human Rights Council for the term of 2023-2025.
Vietnam has sent 169 officers to U.N. peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and the Central African Republic, and successfully deployed its level-2 field hospitals to the U.N. Mission in South Sudan.
With its contributions, Vietnam has been trusted to be elected to hold many important posts and to agencies of the U.N. such as the U.N. Security Council (UNSC), the U.N. Human Rights Council, and the U.N. Socio-Economic Council (ECOSOC).
Affirming the role and prestige of Vietnam
Regarding positions that Vietnam undertook at U.N. agencies, it is noteworthy to point out that Vietnam was twice elected as a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council for the terms of 2008-2009 and 2020-2021. Though participating in the most important agency of the U.N. on international peace and security for the first time, the country was highly appreciated by the international community for its outstanding task performance in the 2008-2009 term.
Currently, as a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council for the 2020-2021 term, Vietnam has made significant milestones. Being elected to this position with the landslide result of 192 votes out of the 193 member countries and territories of the U.N. General Assembly is the initial advantage, showing the strong support as well as the confidence of countries in the role of Vietnam.
In this position, Vietnam has promoted its role and actively participated in implementing common tasks of the U.N. Security Council in the spirit of independence, activeness and responsibility; practically contributed to strengthening negotiation, finding solutions, and meeting international and regional issues of common concern; enhanced bilateral relations with member countries of the Security Council; as well as promoted the dual role as a non-permanent member of the UNSC and ASEAN Chair 2020.
Vietnam has left a good impression with its two initiatives in organizing an open debate on adhering to the U.N. Charter to maintain international peace and security, and the first-ever meeting on cooperation between the U.N. and ASEAN.
These initiatives are in line with the desire of the U.N. members in general and ASEAN countries in particular to uphold the U.N. Charter and international law, and affirm ASEAN's central role in the regional structure.
In addition, Vietnam has effectively cooperated with the U.N. in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The country donated USD 50,000 to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s COVID-19 response fund.
The good outcomes of Vietnam’s U.N. Security Council presidency serves as the basis for Vietnam to continue to promote its role in the coming time. The country has completed concrete plans to further promote multilateralism with the key role of the U.N. and regional organizations in upholding and promoting common values, and principles of international law.
Translated by Lam Anh