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State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc reviewing the guards-of-honor |
Speaking at the event, the State President acknowledged Vietnam’s developments in carrying out U.N. peacekeeping operations. He emphasized that the deployment of the Vietnamese officers to U.N. peacekeeping missions marks a new development in its efforts to fulfill its international duties. The step also proves that Vietnam is a responsible member and contributes to improving the stature and prestige of the country in general and the Vietnam People’s Army in particular, as well as enhancing international cooperation in national defense and security.
On behalf of the Party and State, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc praised and highly appreciated the encouraging outcomes obtained by Vietnam’s U.N. peacekeeping force, especially personnel of the level-2 field hospitals over the past time. He also lauded generals and officers of the Vietnam People’s Army for their great contribution to peacekeeping operations.
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State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaking at the event |
The State President also took the occasion to thank international friends for assisting Vietnam in preparing for and joining U.N. peacekeeping missions. He affirmed that Vietnam wishes to receive more valuable support from international friends and partners so that it could contribute more to peacekeeping in the coming time.
To raise the effectiveness of Vietnam’s participation in peacekeeping operations, President Phuc asked the Ministry of National Defense to cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant agencies to effectively carry out peacekeeping missions in line with the Party’s guidelines, State’s policies, national interests, Vietnam’s constitution and international law. They were also urged to foster international cooperation and continue learning experiences and making the most of supports to raise Vietnamese peacekeepers’ capability to meet task requirements in the new period.
At the event, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations Major General Hoang Kim Phung briefed delegates on the task accomplishment of Vietnamese peacekeepers over the past time. So far, Vietnam has sent 246 officers to two U.N. peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and Central Africa and the U.N. headquarters in New York. The country has also deployed three level-2 field hospitals with 189 medical personnel to the U.N. Mission in South Sudan. Under the instruction of the Central Military Commission and leaders of the Ministry of National Defense, the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations and relevant agencies are making preparations for the deployment of an engineering company to a U.N. peacekeeping mission as requested by the U.N.
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Individuals honored at the event |
According to Director of the level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 2 Colonel Vo Van Hien, despite difficulties, the hospital completed all missions assigned by the Party, State, military and the U.N., contributing to popularizing Vietnam, its people and military to international friends.
On the occasion, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed decisions to present the Fatherland Protection Order to individuals and collectives in acknowledgement of their contribution to Vietnam's participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations from 2012 to 2020, defense consolidation, and national construction and defense.
In particular, the first-class Fatherland Protection Order was granted to Defense Minister Phan Van Giang, former Deputy Defense Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh, and former Deputy Chiefs of the General Department of Politic Affairs Nguyen Trong Nghia and Tran Quang Phuong. The second-class Fatherland Protection Orders were presented to the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations and Deputy Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan.
The third-class orders were given to Military Hospital 175, the Military Medical University, former Director of the Department of External Relations Lieutenant General Vu Chien Thang, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations Major General Hoang Kim Phung, and Deputy Director of Military Hospital 175 Senior Colonel Tran Quoc Viet.
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President Nguyen Xuan Phuc presenting second-class Fatherland Protection Order to the Vietnam Department for Peacekeeping Operations |
The State President also granted the third-class Labor Order to Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung and Vietnamese Ambassador to the U.S. Ha Kim Ngoc.
Translated by Tran Hoai