President Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the UN Security Council's high-level discussion on climate change. (Photo: VNA) The UK diplomat said 2021 has been a year of big transnational challenges, such as COVID-19, climate change, and conflicts in Myanmar, Sudan or Afghanistan, which resulted in a very heavy agenda for the Security Council.
According to her, the strength of the Security Council is that it brings a variety of perspectives and members try and reach agreement through views that they share and through their differences. “And in all of these crises, I think we have managed to come together, working very, very closely with Vietnam,” Woodward said.
Asked about the role of non-permanent members (E10), particularly Vietnam in addressing the issues, the UK diplomat said the council relies on the E10 as completely full members of the Security Council. The division of labour and the burden of responsibility falls very evenly across the E10, she said.
Woodward said she wanted to pay tribute to Vietnam, because the country has worked on issues which are important, but often underlying so looking at the role of women in peace and security work, protecting civilians who are threatened by conflict or taking action against mines and land mines. She added that all of those issues are integral to global peace and security, so they are really valuable contribution from Vietnam as a member of the E10.
The ambassador went on to say that it has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with Vietnam on the Security Council, adding that the really good news is that Vietnam will continue to work on these important issues in the General Assembly and in the many UN committees./.
VNA
