UN official visits Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations

UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix on November 26 visited the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VDPO) under the Ministry of Defence as part of his visit to Vietnam to co-chair the International Conference on Women with the UN Peacekeeping Operations.
UN official visits Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations ảnh 1Director of the department Maj. Gen. Hoang Kim Phung (L) and UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix (Photo: VNA) 
Hanoi (VNA) - UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix on November 26 visited the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VDPO) under the Ministry of Defence as part of his visit to Vietnam to co-chair the International Conference on Women with the UN Peacekeeping Operations.

Meeting with the guest, Director of the department Maj. Gen. Hoang Kim Phung stated that Vietnam always appreciates the UN’s efforts and support in promoting bilateral relations with Vietnam, especially with the VDPO in joining UN peacekeeping activities. 

UN official visits Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations ảnh 2(Photo: VNA) 
According to the Vietnamese officer, since officially participating in UN peacekeeping activities in 2014, Vietnam has sent more than 500 officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) to UN peacekeeping missions.

Regarding group deployment, since Vietnam signed the first agreement with the UN on sending Level-2 Field Hospitals to South Sudan in September 2018, Vietnam has so far dispatched four hospitals of this kind with 252 medical staff to South Sudan, Phung said. 

UN official visits Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations ảnh 3(Photo: VNA) 
In 2022, Vietnam and the UN inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UN on the deployment of engineering units. The country sent its first engineering unit comprising 184 officers and soldiers to the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). 

All the officers and soldiers of the VPA participating in UN peacekeeping activities have well fulfilled their tasks, with more than 30% assessed to show excellent performance, Phung noted.

Notably, Vietnam has always maintained a high percentage of female officers at missions, he added. 

For his part, Lacroix expressed his impression of successes that Vietnam has achieved in the UN peacekeeping work over the past time, and pledged to promote his role as a bridge to further strengthen the UN-Vietnam cooperation, especially in UN peacekeeping.

The official highly valued the VDPO for chairing and coordinating with international partners to successfully organise international training courses on peacekeeping, towards the goal of becoming a regional-class peacekeeping training centre.

While spotlighting Vietnam's great contributions to the implementation of women, peace and security (WPS) agenda, Lacroix said Vietnam has worked hard to realise commitments adopted at the Seoul UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting in the Republic of Korea last year. 

He expressed his belief that the peacekeeping cooperation between the UN and Vietnam will become closer and more effective in the coming time./. 
VNA

See more

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (centre) holds high-level phone talks with his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten on August 11. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Netherlands to deepen cooperation, elevate Comprehensive Partnership

Congratulating the Netherlands on its achievements in socio-economic development and foreign affairs, PM Hung thanked the country for considering Vietnam as one of its leading strategic partners in the region under its new foreign policy. He affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to and wants to further deepen its multifaceted cooperation with the Netherlands.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Gau (right) and US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Michael George DeSombre at their meeting on August 10 (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam, US step up cooperation in search for missing Vietnamese soldiers

A Vietnamese official proposed that the US continue increasing resources for dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa and Phu Cat airbases, expand projects supporting people with disabilities, enhance the sharing of historical data, provide DNA technology assistance and continue close coordination in the search for missing US service members and Vietnamese soldiers.

Trinh Van Quyet (left), member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for Publicity, and Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Matt Thistlethwaite at their meeting in Canberra on August 11, 2026 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Australia seek to forge stronger bonds

The two sides highlighted the progress in the Vietnam–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discussed measures to boost cooperation in areas with considerable potential, including communications, digital trade, cybersecurity, education and people-to-people exchanges.

The executive board of the Vietnam–Spain Friendship Association for the 2026–2031 term makes debut at the congress. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam–Spain Friendship Association looks to strengthen people-to-people ties

Nguyen Duc Loi, President of the Vietnam–Spain Friendship Association for the 2021–2026 term, said Vietnam–Spain relations have continued to develop positively across various fields, with political ties increasingly strengthened and cooperation in trade, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

At a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam - New Zealand diplomatic ties in Ho Chi Minh City in 2025 (Photo: VNA)

Lifting Vietnam-New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to new level

The trip comes as bilateral ties are growing on a foundation of strong political trust and mounting strategic confidence. It carries historic significance as the first state visit to New Zealand by a top Vietnamese Party and State leader, a signal of Vietnam’s high regard and priority for New Zealand - a vital and effective Comprehensive Strategic Partner in the region, and an affirmation of Vietnam’s growing interest in the South Pacific.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (L) shakes hands with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Photo: VNA)

Party General Secretary and President To Lam, Australian Prime Minister meet the press

Vietnam and Australia will step up cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, digital technology, cybersecurity, green technology and emerging technologies, while supporting each other in enhancing capacity to participate more deeply in regional and global supply chains. The two sides will also strengthen cooperation in education and training and people-to-people exchanges.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (R) welcomes General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and President To Lam in Canberra on August 11, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader holds talks with Australian PM

PM Albanese welcomed General Secretary and President Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on their state visit to Australia, stressing its signficance amid the rapidly growing ties, particularly since the two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2024.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam meets with President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines and Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick in Canberra on August 11, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader meets with Australian Senate President, House Speaker

Welcoming General Secretary and President To Lam and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation, the Australian parliamentary leaders spoke highly of Vietnam’s development achievements and expressed their admiration for the dynamism and creativity of the country and its people, particularly young Vietnamese.

Prof. Emeritus Roberto Rabel, a senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington (Photo: VNA)

Top leader’s state visit to give fresh impetus to Vietnam–New Zealand ties: expert

The upcoming state visit by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam to New Zealand is expected to provide fresh momentum for strengthening official cooperation and expanding links among businesses, organisations and communities, said Prof. Emeritus Roberto Rabel, a senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.