ASEAN’s central role in regional security architecture highlighted

Hanoi (VNA) – A Vietnamese representative at the UN delivered a speech at the High-level Thematic Debate on the United Nations, Peace and Security on May 10-11, highlighting ASEAN’s central role in building the regional security architecture.

“The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) of which Vietnam is a proud member, has formed a Community, striving for peace, harmony and shared prosperity, and ASEAN has been playing the central role in building the regional security architecture,” said Do Hung Viet, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations.

Various processes and forums are in place, including the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus.

ASEAN has also worked to manage and find solutions to disputes and prevent conflicts, including in the East Sea (also known as the South China Sea), he said, adding that “we call on all states to join ASEAN in this effort, with the common vision for a Southeast Asian region of peace, stability and prosperity.”

Viet spoke of multilateralism with the UN at its core for the last seven decades in coordinating international responses to global challenges, both traditional and non-traditional.

He said last year was a year of triumph for the United Nations and multilateralism, with the adoption of the universal and transformative sustainable development agenda and ambitious climate change agreement.

“It is now our hope and expectation that equally ambitious endeavours for international peace and security will be undertaken,” he said while affirming Vietnam is strongly committed and will be an active and responsible partner in such endeavours.-VNA