Geneva (VNA) – Permanent Representative of Vietnam in Geneva Ambassador Mai Phan Dung affirmed Vietnam's consistent stance on supporting all efforts toward disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons while speaking at the high-level session of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) which was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from February 24-26.
Dung said Vietnam attaches importance to the CD, considering it the only multilateral forum with the top significant role in global disarmament.
He highlighted Vietnam’s active engagement and contributions to the CD and related disarmament agreements, noting that Vietnam has assumed the CD chairmanship three times and is a signatory to all the most important multilateral treaties on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, including many agreements that are the result of negotiations approved by the CD, most recently the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
Addressing the common concerns shared by member states regarding the current state of global security and the challenges facing the CD, Dung believed that more than ever, the CD needs to capitalise on the recent progress, such as the decision to establish working groups to discuss substantive issues.
Vietnam calls on member states to uphold a sense of responsibility and political determination, enhance cooperation, engage in substantive and flexible dialogue, promote the inclusivity within the CD, he said, adding that by doing so, the CD can overcome its prolonged impasse and advance its multilateral disarmament agenda.
As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnam supports regional disarmament efforts and the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones worldwide, he said, adding that in this spirit, Vietnam underscores the importance of fully and effectively enforcing the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) and stays ready to work closely with nuclear-armed states to expedite their signing and accession to the treaty./.
