New Delhi (VNA) - Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Nghia, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, has proposed measures to enhance UN peacekeeping missions, emphasising improved training and equipment, international cooperation, experience sharing, digital and AI technologies, and integrating environmental protection and security into operations.
The Vietnamese officer made the proposal at the UN Troop Contributing Countries’ (UNTCC) Chiefs Conclave 2025 hosted by India from October 13 to 18, which serves as a venue for army chiefs of participating countries to enhance dialogue, foster mutual understanding, and propose cooperative initiatives.
In his remarks, Nghia said Vietnam pursues a consistent policy and strong commitment to participating in UN peacekeeping operations, considering them a demonstration of the country’s international responsibility and foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development.
He said that to achieve sustainable peace, the international community must work together to improve the lives of people in areas affected by conflict and war, helping them restore trust and stabilise their lives, and build lasting peace, he said. Apart from consistently performing its duties with excellence and caring for local communities, Vietnam has also distinguished itself by increasing the participation of women in UN peacekeeping operations.
Vietnam consistently adheres to its “Four No’s” defence policy – not participating in military alliances, not affiliating with one country to oppose another, not allowing foreign countries to establish military bases or use Vietnamese territory to oppose others, and not using force or threatening to use force in international relations, he confirmed.
On the sidelines of the conclave, Nghia paid a courtesy call on Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and held a bilateral meeting with General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Indian Army Staff.
At the meetings, he emphasised that bilateral defence cooperation has been continuously strengthened with tangible outcomes, highlighting UN peacekeeping cooperation as a standout aspect in the defence relations between the two countries, particularly between their armies.
He thanked the Indian Army for supporting an IT system project at the Army Software Park under the Telecommunication University in Nha Trang, funded by a non-refundable grant from the Indian government.
There remains vast potential for cooperation between the two armies, he said, proposing closer coordination between the two sides to effectively advance cooperation in areas such as delegation exchanges, training, and UN peacekeeping operations, while considering the possibility of cooperation in cybersecurity, military medicine, and search and rescue.
The Indian officials praised the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and India, noting positive outcomes of bilateral defence cooperation in general and army-to-army collaboration in particular.
They affirmed that the two sides will continue to promote cooperation in UN peacekeeping, exchanges of young officers and instructors, and strategic research, thus contributing to further deepening the traditional friendship, trust, and practical cooperation between the two militaries./.
