Five more Vietnamese officers to join UN peacekeeping operations

Hanoi (VNA) – Five Vietnamese officers will be sent to the Central African Republic and South Sudan to perform UN peacekeeping missions under a decision by the President.

The decision was handed over to the officers by Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh at a ceremony in Hanoi on April 5.

Accordingly, the five officers will serve as staff and liaison officers in the Central African Republic and South Sudan, reported Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People’s Army) newspaper.

Addressing the ceremony, Vinh, who is also head of the Defence Ministry’s Steering Committee for Participation in UN Peacekeeping Missions, described peacekeeping as a crucial task assigned by the Party, State and army.

He called on the officers to work hard to deserve the confidence of the army, Party, State and people, and promote the image of Vietnamese soldiers in the eyes of foreign friends.

Major Luong Truong Vinh, one of the five officers, said he has participated in training courses at home and abroad, and improved his foreign language skills to prepare for the tasks.

Since its inception in May 2014, the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre has dispatched seven officers to UN missions in South Sudan and the Central African Republic.

Vietnam is also preparing to deploy a second-level field hospital and a company of engineers to engage in peacekeeping missions when required.-VNA