Delegates attending an online NAM summit themed United against COVID-19 in May 2020 (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam officially joined the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on August 26, 1976.

After joining, the country soon contributed to the goals and process of forming the movement. Before being an official member of the movement, Vietnam made an important contribution to the struggle of NAM and developing countries. After gaining independence in 1945, the country took the lead in the national liberation movement, thus contributing to eliminating colonialism and fighting imperialism.

In 1955, Vietnam attended the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung (Indonesia) – viewed as a precursor to the Non-Aligned Movement.

At the event, Vietnam actively promoted solidarity among newly independent countries, contributing to setting up basic principles that later became the guiding principles for NAM activities.

From 1970 to 1973, the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam served as an observer (the Georgetown Conference, Guyana in 1972), and then as a member of the Non-Aligned Movement (at the 4th NAM Summit in Algeria, 1973).

🅘 In 1976, at the 5th Summit in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Vietnam official joined the Non-Aligned Movement.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN, WTO and other international organisations in Geneva, delivers a speech at the High-Level Commemorative Meeting to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade on October 12, 2021. (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Vietnam attended all summits and foreign minister conferences, strengthened solidarity, upheld the role of the Movement, and strove to fight for the goal of peace, national independence, democracy and social progress. It also participated in activities and made many important contributions to devising documents of the meetings. Vietnam put forth a number of specific recommendations to raise the role of the Movement in the fields of politics, economics, and trade, while sharing the country’s development experience.

In the current period, countries face global challenges such as peace, security, and development in the world. There is also competition among major countries, as well as the unprecedented impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vietnam has recommended that the Non-Aligned Movement should consolidate and affirm the spirit of solidarity that has been forged through a history of more than six decades of operation, considering this a guideline to help turn the "danger" into "opportunity" in order to overcome challenges.

Vietnam called on NAM countries to strengthen cooperation and share experiences at all levels and in all areas, map out effective strategies to complete the "dual goal" of containing the disease and developing the economy. NAM also ensures social security, while supporting the strengthening of multilateralism, international solidarity and persistently pursuing major multilateral commitments.

𝐆 The NAM should continue to play the leading role in promoting respect for the law, democratising international relations, opposing power-based political behaviour, promoting the lifting of sanctions and unilateral embargoes. It should also respond to the UN Secretary General’s appeal for a global ceasefire to maintain an international environment of peace and stability.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet leads a Vietnamese delegation to the NAM Ministerial Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan on July 5-6, 2023 (Source: baoquocte.vn)

Most recently, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan on July 5 - 6.

Entitled “Non-Aligned Movement: united and steadfast in confronting emerging challenges", the event drew the participation of more than 80 representatives of NAM member countries, regional and international organisations which are observers of the movement.

In his remarks at the meeting, Deputy FM affirmed the historical role of NAM in the cause of national liberation and in ending colonialism in the context of the Cold War.

Now as the world is divided by geopolitical competition, division and confrontation, it is necessary for NAM to uphold its fundamental values and principles, and resolutely fight against manifestations of power politics, forms of unilateral coercion against its member countries and stay united to solve global challenges, Viet said.

He pointed out that small and medium countries, like NAM member countries, need to be autonomous in diplomatic, political and economic strategies and policies.

"Vietnam persists in the foreign policy of independence and self-reliance to maximise national interests," Viet noted.

⛎ Established in 1961, NAM is dedicated to representing the interests and aspirations of developing countries, and now has 120 members from Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, accounting for 60% of UN members./.