At the reception, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien highly appreciated the important contribution of Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix in his role overseeing peacekeeping operations. He also extended his gratitude to the U.N. agencies in Vietnam for their active cooperation with the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, which has contributed significantly to Vietnam’s achievements in U.N. peacekeeping participation.
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Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and U.N. Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix at the reception |
According to Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, since June 2014, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense has deployed 1,083 personnel to U.N. peacekeeping missions and U.N. Headquarters in both individual and units. Notably, the current proportion of Vietnamese female military personnel participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations is over 16 percent, significantly higher than the average among force-contributing countries.
He affirmed that in the time ahead, Vietnam committed itself to expanding its engagement in U.N. peacekeeping operations by deploying new unit types such as mechanized infantry, communications, and airfield support units, among others. These will be registered with the Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System of the U.N. (PCRS) according to procedure, to be ready for deployment to missions. Additionally, Vietnam plans to increase the nomination of personnel for senior-level positions within the U.N.
In response to the U.N.'s call for increased member state contributions to peace operations, the Vietnam People’s Army recently nominated Colonel Vu Thi Lien for the position of policy and defense-security expert at the U.N. Office in Brussels, Belgium. She has been notified of her successful selection and is expected to begin her post in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Furthermore, the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations worked with the Integrated Training Service of the Department of Peace Operations of the U.N., on the accreditation of the U.N. Staff Officer Course (UNSOC), to be hosted by Vietnam in January 2026.
Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien expressed his hope for continued support and consultation from the U.N. and Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, enabling Vietnam to make even more effective contribution to U.N. peacekeeping efforts.
For his part, U.N. Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix emphasized that peacekeeping is a cornerstone of the partnership between the U.N. and Vietnam. He praised Vietnam's active and effective contribution to U.N. peacekeeping operations and affirmed the U.N.'s continued support for Vietnam and its efforts to expand cooperation in this area.
On the same day in Hanoi, Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix also met with the press. Speaking with journalists, he expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s achievements and efforts in addressing the consequences of unexploded ordnance (UXO) left over from war. He noted that Vietnam has successfully combined national resources with international support, integrating UXO clearance with socio-economic development goals.
He emphasized that the legacy of UXO in Vietnam remains severe, significantly hindering economic development, infrastructure projects, agricultural activities, and education. He highlighted three key lessons from Vietnam’s experience: strong political will, autonomy, and robust partnerships, all of which have formed a solid foundation for post-war UXO remediation.
Translated by Trung Thanh