UN selects Vietnam as training site for peacekeeping forces
Vietnam is among four countries in Southeast Asia selected to be the training sites for the UN peacekeeping forces, with the first training course to be held in Vietnam at the end of this year.
Members of Vietnam’s first field hospital for UN peacekeeping mission (Photo: VNA)
New York (VNA) – Vietnam is among fourcountries in Southeast Asia selected to be the training sites for the UNpeacekeeping forces, with the first training course to be held in Vietnam atthe end of this year.
The decision wasannounced by the United Nations (UN) Department of Field Support (DFS) on June25 following its inspection of training sites for the UN peacekeeping forces inthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The other three countries are Cambodia,Indonesia and Thailand.
Representatives of ASEAN member countrieswelcomed the UN to open peacekeeping training courses in the Southeast Asianregion and congratulated Vietnam on being the first country in the region tohost the course.
All training facilitiesfor peacekeeping forces in Vietnam meet international standards.
The selection of Vietnam as the first training placeamong ASEAN nations demonstrates the UN’s high evaluation of Vietnam’s commitmentsand contributions to the UN peacekeeping activities.
Vietnam is preparing to send a second-levelfield hospital to South Sudan.
The country has sent 20officers to work at the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission inCentral African Republic and the UN Mission in South Sudan, including a femaleofficer, after nearly four years of joining the UN peacekeeping operations.-VNA
Vietnam will send more officers, especially females, to participate in the UN peacekeeping operations, said Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh.
Seven officers from the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre will be dispatched to the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic and South Sudan in 2018.
The Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre opened a training course for UN staff officers in Hanoi on June 5 with the support of the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) under the US Department of State.
Vietnam is actively preparing to send its policemen to UN peacekeeping missions, said Lieut. Gen. Tran Van Ve, Acting General Director of the General Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security, at the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS) that took place in New York on June 21.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
The new framework is designed to ensure that incoming investments deliver tangible national benefits, such as the creation of high-quality jobs for Malaysians and the development of local company ecosystems and technologies.
Singapore led with a total of 8.8 billion USD in realised investment, followed by Hong Kong and mainland China, Malaysia, and Japan with 8 billion USD, 1.7 billion USD and 1.6 billion USD, respectively.
Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on August 7 outlined his strategy for tackling drug problems in Thailand, aiming for a "Zero Drugs Thailand" within three months.
The US has described Malaysia's role as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as vital in helping ease tension between Thailand and Cambodia.
Indonesia ranks as the world's sixth-largest gold reserve holder, producing an estimated 160 to 200 tonnes annually, mainly through major state-owned enterprises. Despite this, much of the mined gold is held or traded abroad. In 2024 alone, Indonesia exported gold worth 5.4 billion USD while reimporting 2.6 billion USD worth of the metal.
Cambodia and Thailand vowed not to undertake provocative actions that may escalate tensions, including entering the other side’s air space and territory, and refrain from constructing or enhancing military infrastructure.
Members of Vietnam’s first field hospital for UN peacekeeping mission (Photo: VNA) 
