The Vietnamese delegation that is taking part in the field exercise on peacekeeping operations and humanitarian mine action in Indonesia (Photo: VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – Vietnam is taking part in a field exercise on peacekeeping operations and humanitarian mine action that opened at the Indonesia Peace and Security Centre in Sentul city on September 16.
The drill until September 20 comes within the framework of the experts’ working groups of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the ADMM Plus.
It is attended by more than 500 personnel from the 10 ASEAN members and eight partner countries, namely the US, China, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, India, Russia, Australia and Japan.
The team of the Vietnamese Defence Ministry consists of 33 officers divided into two groups. The group for the peacekeeping drill is led by Col. Nguyen Nhu Canh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and the other for the humanitarian mine action drill, by Col. Pham Huu Tuan, Deputy Chief of the engineering arm’s staff.
Opening the exercise, Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu highly valued the defence cooperation among the ADMM Plus members in the recent past, especially in peacekeeping operations and humanitarian mine action.
He said those activities have helped improve the member countries’ capacity to contribute more effectively to UN peacekeeping missions and the settlement of post-war unexploded ordnances. They are also a practical defence cooperation channel to enhance the solidarity and mutual understanding among the members of the ADMM Plus.
The exercise is a good chance for the countries to share experience in humanitarian activities, the official said, applauding the engagement of servicewomen in the event which, he said, is in line with the UN’s encouragement of women’s participation in peacekeeping operations.
Col. Canh said this is the first time Vietnam has taken part in this exercise, and the participation has affirmed the country’s sense of responsibility towards common activities of ASEAN and the ADMM Plus.
Following Indonesia and Australia’s co-chairmanship of the ADMM Plus experts’ working group on peacekeeping operations, Vietnam and Japan will co-chair the group for 2020-2023.
Therefore, this time’s exercise is a good chance for Vietnam to gain experience in organising multilateral peacekeeping drills to prepare for future events. It is also an occasion to improve relevant sides’ capacity in personnel training and readying forces for UN peacekeeping operations in the time ahead, he added./.
VNA
