Vietnam makes practical contributions to Non-aligned Movement

Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh affirmed that Vietnam has made practical contributions to the Non-aligned Movement in a recent media interview on the 50^th founding anniversary of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM). 

Deputy Foreign Minister (FM) Pham Binh Minh led a Vietnamese delegation to participate in the 16^th NAM Ministerial Meeting and a ceremony to mark the 50^th anniversary of NAM in Bali, Indonesia from May 24-27.

Deputy FM Minh highlighted the results of the meeting in this interview:

Reporter: What is your assessment of NAM’s role and contributions, as well as its challenges over the past five decades?

Mr Minh: Founded in September 1969 in an attempt to thwart the Cold War and protect world peace, the Non-Aligned Movement is a group of developing countries that actively support struggles for national independence, peace and a new international economic order. The organisation’s principles and goals have become standards recognised by many countries around the world with a focus on respecting sovereignty, strengthening friendships, dealing with international disputes peacefully in line with international laws, and not intervening in internal affairs.

However, NAM has had to face with challenges posed by hostile forces aiming to weaken the movement.

Since the 14^th meeting in Havana, Cuba in 2006, NAM member countries have reaffirmed the movement’s basic principles and goals and established orientations for the future. They have strengthened solidarity and cooperation, especially in economics, culture and health care, through regular attendance at multilateral forums. NAM member countries, together with developing nations, have been creating a common standpoint on global issues relating to peace, security and development.

The Non-Aligned Movement has increased it membership from 108 countries in 1992 to 120 today, showing its vitality and attractiveness. Two thirds of its members are also members of the United Nations.

In the future, the region and the world may experience many rapid changes that require NAM members to cooperate and resolve common challenges. More effective measures should be taken to consolidate unity and promote the dynamic role of the movement in external relations and multilateral forums on politics, economics and other issues, for the sake of a new, more equitable and democratic international order to ensure the benefits of developing countries.

Reporter: Could you tell us about Vietnam’s contributions to the Non-Aligned Movement in recent years, as well as to the 16th NAM Ministerial Meeting in Indonesia?

Mr Minh: Vietnam’s heroic struggles against foreign invaders have encouraged other countries in the world to get involved in resistance wars for national liberation. The bright example set by Vietnam and its success in its struggles against foreign aggressors have made practical contributions to the principles and goals of NAM.

Vietnam and other countries attended the Asia-Africa conference in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955 and put forth the 10 well-known basic “Principles of Bandung”.

Before becoming an official NAM member in 1975, Vietnam had contributed to strengthening solidarity and increasing the role of NAM for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress.

Vietnam always attaches importance to boosting cooperation with NAM and considers it an important part in implementing open policies on external relations and diversifying relationships with other countries. Vietnam is always willing to be a reliable friend and partner of nations around the world.

Vietnam has taken many initiatives during its time as a non- permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2008-2009. At the 15th NAM Summit in Egypt in July 2009, Vietnam won applause from NAM for its contributions to the UNSC annual report.

In recent years, Vietnam’s achievements in its current process of renewal have been highly appreciated by NAM member countries, especially in economic development and external relations. The country successfully organized its 11th National Party Congress and defined important tasks to accelerate its comprehensive renewal to make Vietnam an industrial nation by 2020, with a priority given to international integration. This will create favourable conditions for it to make more practical contributions to NAM and multilateral forums.

Vietnam took part in the 16^th NAM Ministerial Meeting and a ceremony to celebrate the 50^th founding anniversary of the group. It also proposed measures to raise the role and position of NAM in dealing with global issues and protecting the legitimate rights of NAM member countries. The meeting adopted many important documents, including the final document, the statement marking the 50^th anniversary of NAM, the statement to eliminate nuclear weapons, and the statement on Palestinian political prisoners.

During the meeting, the Vietnamese delegation emphasized the importance of multilateralism against superpower policies, as well as building fair and equal international relations and strengthening friendship and cooperation among member countries. They also stressed the need to raise the voice of NAM in resolving major international issues, such as the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), promoting the Doha negotiations and the fight against global crises and challenges.