Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam will strive tooutstandingly perform its role as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)President in April, significantly contributing to realising the foreign policyset by the 13th National Party Congress.

The affirmation was made by Politburo member, DeputyPrime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in his recent articlepublished on the occasion of Vietnam assuming the rotating UNSC Presidency forthe second time during the 2020-2021 tenure.

“This is the first multilateral mission the countryhas taken on following the 13th National Party Congress, which hasdrawn up vision and major orientations and policies for national development,including the foreign policy in the new period,” Minh wrote at the beginning ofthe article.

Vietnam’simprint at UNSC – favourable condition for further success

Vietnam has joined the UNSC for the second time inthe context of complex developments of the global situation, increasingcompetitions between powers, conflicts and uncertainties occurring in manyplaces worldwide, and the COVID-19 spreading, according to the article.

However, the country has effectively implementedactivities relating to the UNSC, completed the heavy workload in the first yearof the tenure, and created its own imprint at the UNSC – the most importantbody of the UN in maintaining international peace and security.

“This is the imprint and characteristics of the foreignpolicy of Vietnam, a country that loves peace, opposes all forms of war and theuse of force, upholds the UN Charter and observes international law,” Minh wrote.

Vietnam has demonstrated its responsibility as aUNSC member that always works to promote consensus and makes efforts to seekpeaceful solutions to conflicts, he went on.

“We have persistently pursued the principles ofindependence, self-reliance, protecting national interests in harmony with theinterests of the international community; made active, proactive, constructiveand responsible contributions, and properly handled complicated issues in theUNSC agenda, while promoting Vietnam’s efforts and experience in nationalreconstruction and development,” he said.

The Deputy PM and FM stressed that Vietnam hasactively put forward many initiatives and played a core and leading role in severalmajor matters.

While holding the UNSC Presidency for the first timein January 2020, Vietnam successfully chaired an open debate on upholding theUN Charter to maintain international peace and security, and the first-evermeeting on cooperation between the UN and the ASEAN, which well combined thecountry’s dual role of UNSC non-permanent member and ASEAN Chair in 2020, thushelping enhance the ASEAN’s solidarity and role, and strengthen connectivitybetween the regional grouping and the UN and the UNSC.

Vietnam also hosted the International Conference onWomen, Peace and Security with the participation of more than 400 delegatesfrom nearly 90 countries and many international inter-governmental andnon-governmental organisations. Countries had supported and appreciatedVietnam’s efforts and resolve to host such an event amidst the pandemic, andlauded the country’s leading role in building the Hanoi Action Commitment thatpromotes women’s role in peace process. The document was co-sponsored by 75countries in the region, and circulated as an official document of the UN.

Moreover, the country has made specific andpragmatic contributions to maintaining stability, reconstruction and peacebuilding through engaging in UN peacekeeping operations in South Sudan and theCentral African Republic.

Vietnamese forces at the UN missions have workedprofessionally, and completed their assigned tasks, receiving applause of the UNand the international community, and winning love and trust of local residents,Minh noted.

Such achievements have contributed to maintainingand consolidating a peaceful, stable and favourable environment for nationaldevelopment, improving Vietnam’s prestige and position in the internationalarena, and deepening multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and majorpartners, thus combining bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, he stressed.

Successfullyserving as UNSC President, bringing into play pioneering role of diplomacy

Entering the second year of its tenure as anon-permanent member of the UNSC and acting as the council’s President for thesecond time in the tenure, Vietnam is strongly implementing the foreign policyset out by the 13th National Party Congress, especially bringinginto play the pioneering role of diplomacy and promoting multilateral diplomacyand comprehensive and intensive international integration.

Minh stressed that the strategic orientations andnew mindset about foreign relations, along with the successes gained in thefirst year of the UNSC membership have provided a favourable foundation for thecountry to better perform the UNSC Presidency in the second time, in April2021.

According to him, as the council’s President, Vietnamis set to organise and chair about 30 UNSC meetings and represent the councilin the relations with non-UNSC member states, UN agencies, internationalorganisations, and the press in an active, proactive, and responsible manner,aiming to concurrently ensure objectivity and transparency, flexibly andharmoniously deal with and balance countries’ interest in discussed issues,while enhancing cooperation and consensus in the UNSC.

Vietnam will promote the priorities and hallmarkevents that match its commitment to boosting “partnership for sustainablepeace” during its membership. Accordingly, Vietnam will seek satisfactory andsustainable solutions to conflicts, promote dialogue, resolve disputes bypeaceful means, foster the role of regional organisations, put people at thecentre, and promote humane policies towards vulnerable groups.

In that spirit, Vietnam is going to chair threeimportant events during the month of its UNSC Presidency.

The focal event is a high-level open debate slatedfor April 19 on strengthening cooperation between the UN and regionalorganisations in promoting trust and dialogue in conflict prevention andsettlement. This is the continuation of Vietnam’s priority of fostering therole of regional organisations and also an occasion for the country to joinother states to share experience and propose solutions to tighten links betweenthe UN and regional organisations in handling global challenges as well aspreventing and solving conflicts in certain regions – an extremely practical topicthat matches both Vietnam’s interest and the expectations of the internationalcommunity.

Vietnam will organise a ministerial meeting (onApril 8) on settling bomb and landmine consequences and maintaining sustainablepeace. As a country hit hard by war-left bomb, landmine, and explosiveconsequences, Vietnam will share experience and attract the UNSC’s attention tothis issue. Together with other states, it will show support forhumanitarianism and the necessity of reinforcing international cooperation insettling UXO aftermath.

A ministerial-level open debate on the protection offacilities essential to people’s life in armed conflicts will take place onApril 27. Protecting civilians in armed conflicts, especially the facilitiesessential to their life like food production and distribution facilities, waterand power supply facilities, and hospitals, is an issue frequently discussed atthe UNSC and many other multilateral mechanisms and forums.

Deputy PM and FM Minh concluded that with high resolveto promptly and effectively implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, and with the growing strength, fortune, stature, andprestige, Vietnam has the firm belief that it will successfully fulfill itsrole as UNSC President in April 2021 with new contributions and hallmarks./.