Vietnam to Increase Participation in UN Peacekeeping Missions

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis. Photo: dangcongsan.vn

According to a report from Viet Nam News, Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien expressed Vietnam’s readiness to participate in additional UN peacekeeping operations during a meeting with UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis in Hanoi on August 12.

Chien expressed his appreciation for the cooperation and support extended by the United Nations (UN) and its agencies, particularly the UN Resident Coordinator Office, during Vietnam’s tenure as the Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2020 and as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council from 2020 to 2021.

The individual expressed gratitude to the United Nations and related agencies for their close collaboration with Vietnam in the successful implementation of numerous initiatives to address the repercussions of war, specifically efforts focused on unexploded ordnance and toxic chemicals. These programs and projects have yielded positive results.

The official expressed his desire for the United Nations to maintain its collaboration with the Defence Ministry in the post-war settlement by providing financial and technical assistance, supporting capacity development, facilitating the exchange of experiences, and contributing to the establishment of a comprehensive database.

Vietnam has been an active participant in UN peacekeeping efforts since its formal involvement in 2014. The nation has effectively deployed more than 500 personnel to peacekeeping missions and the UN headquarters. As a pioneering Southeast Asian country, Vietnam has successfully executed three training programs on heavy engineering equipment through the Vietnam-UN-Japan trilateral partnership initiative. This collaboration has received commendations from UN leaders for its high-quality training courses.

According to Chien, the country has consistently exceeded the average rate of female participation in peacekeeping operations. The government has pledged to further increase this percentage to over 20% by the year 2025.

Vietnam has expressed its commitment to increase its involvement in UN peacekeeping operations. This includes sending more personnel on missions and exploring various forms of participation. Additionally, Vietnam intends to deploy police forces on these operations.

Vietnamese UN peacekeepers. Photo: VNA

The official requested the United Nations to provide ongoing support for Vietnam’s commitments and political determination to participate in peacekeeping operations. Additionally, they emphasized the importance of creating favorable conditions to further enhance cooperation in this area.

Tamesis commended Vietnam for its exceptional efforts, particularly the dedication of its military and police forces, in effectively controlling the Covid-19 pandemic.

The United Nations is committed to supporting the Government and people of Vietnam in achieving a successful socio-economic recovery post-pandemic, as well as addressing healthcare needs.

The official recently had the privilege of signing the Strategic Framework for Sustainable Development Cooperation with the Vietnamese Government. Described as a vital document, it outlines the United Nations’ strategy and assistance priorities for the country over the next five years. Moreover, the document emphasizes the UN’s role in aiding Vietnam’s recovery after the pandemic and ensuring inclusivity.

The Resident Coordinator expressed great admiration for Vietnam’s accomplishments in participating in UN peacekeeping operations, particularly the significant involvement of women. The UN has reiterated its commitment to providing ongoing support in this area.

The United Nations expressed strong appreciation for Vietnam’s contribution in sending police officers to support peacekeeping efforts. Vietnam has deployed three officers to the mission in South Sudan and one to the Police Division in New York, according to Tamesis.

Police Officers Urged to Fulfill UN Peacekeeping Tasks

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (third from right) presents the decision and flowers to new officers assigned to United Nations peacekeeping missions Photo: VNA

On the same day, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc called upon the police officers deployed for United Nations peacekeeping missions to effectively utilize their talents, strengths, and creativity in order to successfully accomplish their assigned duties.

He made the statement during a ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) in Hanoi to present the President’s decision on sending officers to the UN peacekeeping missions and the Minister of Public Security’s decision on the establishment of the MPS Office for Peacekeeping Operations, according to an article in VietnamPlus.

The allocation of personnel to United Nations peacekeeping operations is an essential component of our nation’s dedication to upholding global peace. This endeavor aligns with the objectives outlined in the “The Vietnamese people’s public security force participates in the UN peacekeeping operations for the 2014-2020 period and beyond” project.

He expressed his satisfaction that a total of eight Vietnamese public security officers have successfully met the requirements set by the United Nations. As a result, four of them have been selected to commence their service at the UN headquarters and the UN Mission in South Sudan starting this year.

In light of the intricate and unpredictable global circumstances that await us in the near future, President Phuc has issued a call for unity with the international community. Together, we must strive to address both traditional and non-traditional security challenges in collaboration with the United Nations.