Hanoi Peace Conference inaugurated

On the morning of November 25, 2022, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), the Vietnam Peace Committee in collaboration with the World Peace Council opened the Hanoi Peace Conference in Hanoi, Vietnam.

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On the Vietnamese side, attendants were Comrade Uong Chu Luu, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, President of the Vietnam Peace Committee; Comrade Nguyen Phuong Nga, President of Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; Representatives of Vietnam Communist Party’s Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Hanoi leaders, the Unions of Friendship Organizations of some provinces and cities, etc. Comrade. Nguyen Thi Binh, former Vice-Sate President, and Honorary President of the Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation sent a welcome message to the conference.

As for international guests, Comrade Pallab Sengupta, President of the World Peace Council; Comrade Athanasios Pafilis, Secretary General of the World Peace Council; Comrade Iraklis Tsavdaridis, Permanent Secretary of the World Peace Council; more than 90 international delegates and guests are representatives of organizations: the Organization of Solidarity with Peoples of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, World Federation of Democratic Youth, International Federation of Democratic Women, International Democratic Lawyers Association, the World Federation of Trade Unions, the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Armament Reduction, Eurasian People’s Forum, etc. attended the conference.

Hanoi Peace Conference inaugurated
At the event (Photo: Thu Ha)

Speaking at the opening Ceremony, President of the Vietnam Peace Committee Uong Chu Luu warmly welcomed the delegates to the Hanoi Peace Conference, which is an important event held on the occasion of the 22nd Assembly of the World Peace Council. Comrade Uong Chu Luu shared that preventing the risk of war for a peaceful, free and happiness-pursuing life is always the most sacred, noble, and humane desire of mankind. That is why the United Nations was established immediately after the Second World War and the international legal system has been built and continuously strengthened over the past several decades.

That is also the goal of all nations and peace forces in the world, including the World Peace Council and its member organizations. However, the world situation today is facing such many great fluctuations as economic recession, conflict, narrow-minded nationalism and other traditional, and non-traditional security issues.

The President of the Vietnam Peace Committee said that the 21st century marks the emergence of the Asia-Pacific region as an increasingly important economic center and a strategic competitive area in the world. To maintain regional peace and stability, countries need to strictly and fully implement the basic principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, respecting independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, committing non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries; refraining from using and threatening to use force, settling disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, and refraining from unilateral actions changing the status quo. Besides, it is necessary to put an end to the arms race and promote demilitarization to reduce the risk of military conflicts in the region, forming effective collective agreements and mechanisms to ensure common security, prevent conflicts, and maintain peace and stability in the region with the equal participation of all relevant stakeholders.

Hanoi Peace Conference inaugurated
Uong Chu Luu, President of the Vietnam Peace Committee (Photo: Thu Ha)

On behalf of the Vietnam Peace Committee, President Uong Chu Luu expressed his wish that the World Peace Council would continue to consolidate and further strengthen the solidarity and unity among its membership organizations, simultaneously expanding connections and gathering more widely progressive democratic forces fighting for peace, cooperation and fair, sustainable development in the world.

It is necessary to strengthen initiatives and step up activities to oppose war, prevent conflicts, prevent arms race, demand the abolition of weapons of mass destruction, and unite with the peoples of countries struggling for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress; respect the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. At the same time, he expressed the Vietnam Peace Committee and the people of Vietnam’s sincere gratitude to the World Peace Council, international democratic and progressive organizations and its membership organizations’ support to the revolutionary cause of Vietnam, especially the support for Agent Orange/dioxin victims in Vietnam.

Hanoi Peace Conference inaugurated
Newly-appointed President of the World Peace Council Pallab Sengupta. (Photo: Thu Ha)

The Hanoi Peace Conference was held within the framework of the 22nd Assembly of the World Peace Council to create a forum for delegates to discuss and exchange their views, assessing the ongoing political-security situation, affecting peace, stability and human security in the region and in the world, and sharing valuable practical experiences on peace activities in other countries, thereby making practical contributions to the international peace, democracy and progress movement.

Speaking at the conference, representatives of international organizations unanimously agreed that the 22nd Assembly of the World Peace Council is an important event for all peace-loving people in the world, especially in the context that the world is experiencing economic, political instability, millions of people leaving their homeland, living in poverty, getting unemployed due to wars, conflicts, pandemic, natural disasters, etc.

Hanoi Peace Conference inaugurated
Socorro Gomes Coelho, former President of the World Peace Council (Photo: Thu Ha)

Each delegates affirms their commitment to protecting the interests of the people, raising global awareness of the urgency of preventing war and other forms of unfair treatment. Besides, it is necessary to strengthen the solidarity of all classes of people to fight against war and protect world peace.

Mrs. Socorro Gomes Coelho, former President of the World Peace Council, called on peace-loving forces to consider the task of protecting peace as an obligation, therefore strengthening common efforts of all mankind for peace, stability and prosperity throughout the world. As President Fidel Castro, the great leader of Cuba said: “We need everyone regardless of skin color, religion, age, place of birth to unite to build and protect peace and stability, fairness and equitableness for all people in the world”.

Bao Huy