The event was co-chaired by Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Defense Minister, and Mr. Kamal Malhotra, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam.
The conference aimed to map out measures to help Vietnam promote its capacity for performing UN peacekeeping operations and build up the Vietnam Department for Peacekeeping Operations under the Defense Ministry to become a regional training center on UN peacekeeping operations.
Besides, delegates pointed out Vietnam’s needs for resources and experiences in both short-and long-terms in UN peacekeeping operations and called on international organizations and partner countries to boost cooperation and coordination with Vietnam in a more effective manner in the coming time.
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Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh and other delegates in a group photo |
In his remarks, General Vinh, who is also Head of the Defense Ministry’s Steering Committee for Vietnam’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations, affirmed the country’s political determination to join the UN peacekeeping operations, which has been supported by the Vietnamese people and demonstrated its responsibilities to the international community.
The general stressed that having experienced many wars, the Vietnamese people have thoroughly understood the war prizes and significant value of peace. By sending its forces to UN peacekeeping missions, Vietnam wishes to make its part to global peace and to consolidate and maintain stability of the country.
As a new country contributing troops to UN peacekeeping operations, Vietnam has been making great efforts, but still needs assistance and support from the UN and partner countries, he added.
The conference focused on three major themes, namely plans and priorities of Vietnam in UN peacekeeping operations, building capacity for the Training Center of the Vietnam Department for UN peacekeeping operations, and supporting Vietnam’s sustainable deployment.
Translated by Van Hieu