France willing to share peacekeeping experience with Vietnam

Hanoi (VNA) – France stands ready to share its experience with Vietnam in UN peacekeeping operations and will do its utmost to help the country engage in the mission as best as possible.

The remarks were made by French Deputy Ambassador Remi Lambert at a conference that opened in Hanoi on November 19. The two-day event is jointly held by the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre and the French Embassy’s Defence Attache with the aim of enhancing understanding, friendship and cooperation between the two countries in peacekeeping.

France is currently the world’s third largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, he said, adding that more than 900 French soldiers have been sent across the world to take part in the activities.

Through its remarkable contributions, France has drawn substantial experience in this field, said Lambert.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the European country has also largely contributed to proposing peacekeeping-related dossiers, he noted.

Lieut. Gen. Vo Van Tuan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, spoke highly the fruitful cooperation between the two countries in various areas, including peacekeeping.

Hailing France’s contributions to peacekeeping missions in terms of both finance and forces, the officer noted his hope that the country will support Vietnamese candidates for UN peacekeeping missions.

Tuan, who is also deputy head of the Defence Ministry’s Steering Committee for Peacekeeping, urged the Vietnamese Peacekeeping Centre to work with the French side to chart concrete cooperation roadmaps and plans between the two countries, particularly in areas France has strength like training and equipment supply.

The centre was also asked to invite French experts to teach French language for Vietnamese peacekeeping forces.

During the conference, French experts share their country’s experience in negotiating with the UN for a memorandum of understanding between soldier supplier and the UN, and in building peacekeeping centre, especially in the training and deployment of forces.

Participants are scheduled to learn about the UN structure and peacekeeping operations, and peacekeeping centre models in other countries, as well as functions and tasks of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre.

Vietnam’s participation in the UN peacekeeping missions is in line with the State and army’s guidelines, aiming to realise the country’s foreign policy of multilateralisation and diversification of relations, and active and proactive contributions to international security and peace.

Vietnam has dispatched seven officers to join UN peacekeeping forces in South Sudan and Central Africa.

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