Deputy Chief of the General Staff Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan, Head of the CEPPP’s Steering Committee, chaired the ceremony.
The event also drew the participation of leaders of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense (MND), representatives of embassies and defense attachés of ADMM+ countries to Vietnam, representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat, and members of 18 delegations of ADMM+ countries.
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Flags of Vietnam and ASEAN flying during the opening ceremony |
Addressing the opening ceremony, Gen. Tan affirmed the significance of the ADMM+ as an important forum on defense and security in the region. ADMM+ has made active contribution to promoting defense-security cooperation, for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
This is the first time for Vietnam to host large-scale multinational activities in U.N. peacekeeping, affirming its responsibility, prestige, and position, as well as its contribution to multilateral cooperation mechanisms in U.N. peacekeeping in the region and within the framework of ADMM+.
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Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan addressing the ceremony |
This CEPPP is the final activity of the Peacekeeping Experts' Working Groups Cycle 4 (2021 - 2023) within the framework of ADMM+. With the theme “Competency Evaluation for Prospective Peacekeeper Program,” CEPPP attracts the participation of nearly 300 experts, lecturers, and observers from ADMM+ countries, aiming to raise the competence, effectiveness, and coordination ability among military observers, with the support of engineering and medical units at U.N. peacekeeping missions.
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Director for Defense Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region of the Japanese Ministry of Defense Matsuzawa Tomoko delivering a speech at the event |
Gen. Tan underscored that this was a good opportunity for delegations to exchange and share experience, train, and practice so as to undertake U.N. peacekeeping operations in line with reality. It also contributed to enhancing solidarity and cooperating in U.N. peacekeeping field among ADMM+ countries, affirming responsibility and commitment of the member countries for the joint efforts in maintaining peace and security in the world.
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Deputy Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations Senior Colonel Nguyen Nhu Canh speaking at the ceremony |
At the ceremony, two co-chairs of the Experts' Working Groups in Peacekeeping Cycle 4, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations Senior Colonel Nguyen Nhu Canh and Director for Defense Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region of the Japanese Ministry of Defense Matsuzawa Tomoko, held that both sides have worked closely to meet set goals, especially during this year’s CEPPP.
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During the flag-saluting ceremony |
Specifically, the two sides agreed that this CEPPP must focus on challenges facing United Nations peacekeeping operations, experience of member countries in participating in peacekeeping operations in CEPPP scenarios, and gender equality.
Senior Colonel Nguyen Nhu Canh added that CEPPP will raise awareness of the role and significance of women in implementing U.N. peacekeeping operations.
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Delegates in a joint photo |
For her part, Mrs. Matsuzawa Tomoko highlighted Vietnam and Japan as well as ADMM+’s achievements in implementing women’s innovations in Peace and Security - one of the major goals of the Experts' Working Groups in Peacekeeping Cycle 4.
Vietnam and Japan have the mutual concern in promoting and raising awareness of the role of women in U.N. peacekeeping activities, thereby mapping out CEPP’s scenarios related to women’s role.
Translated by Minh Anh