Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, speaks at a UNSC discussion on the Syrian situation (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has completed its role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2020-2021 tenure, excellently achieving all set goals for the tenure amid complicated and unpredictable socio-economic, political, and security developments, as well as unprecedented challenges like the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the period, the council held some 840 ambassador-level meetings and approved more than 240 documents on 60 different agenda items. Vietnam served as President of the Security Council twice, in January 2020 and April 2021.
Vietnam made practical engagement and contributions to the UNSC’s common work and received high evaluation from countries, as well as domestic and global public opinions. The country responsibly contributed to the process of discussing and seeking solutions to prevent and overcome the consequences of conflicts and maintaining international peace and security on the basis of upholding the UN Charter and international law. This left many imprints on the identity and the art of Vietnam's multilateral diplomacy.
Substantial contributions to common affairs
As a non-permanent member of the council, Vietnam participated in finding solutions to issues on the agenda of the council in all regions, including conflicts in Africa and the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, as well as important topics such as the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, maritime security, climate change, and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The country helped promote common consensus, cooperation, and dialogue, as well as reducing tensions and confrontations while seeking fair and reasonable solutions to problems threatening regional and international peace and security, all while upholding the principle of flexibility and ingenuity in behaviour with other countries and parties.
The highlight of these efforts is the fact that Vietnam proposed the UNSC adopt the UNSC President's Statement on "Upholding the UN Charter in the maintenance of international peace and security", the Resolution on "Protecting the essential infrastructure to people's lives", and many other documents and activities.
Commenting on the first of Vietnam’s UNSC Presidency month, representatives of countries held that despite great challenges, Vietnam successfully completed the task.
Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the UN, said that Vietnam showed effective performance and completed all tasks.
Mark Lowcock, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, showed strong support for Vietnam putting humanitarian issues under discussion, while the Foreign Minister of Mozambique, Verónica Nataniel, said that Vietnam actively and effectively contributed to the activities of the council, including practical initiatives for peace and security in Africa.
Responsibility and balance
During its working term, Vietnam made substantial contributions to the work of the council, skilfully and satisfactorily handling many important and complex international peace and security issues, on the basis of ensuring the implementation of the UN Charter and international law, while actively proposing many practical initiatives to peacefully resolve conflicts and disputes, playing the role of mediator and bridge on a number of difficult issues.
Vietnam chaired the proposal, compilation and negotiations for two resolutions of the UNSC as well as three Presidential statements, along with two resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the formation of the Group of Friends on the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which has drawn the largest number of 113 participants among UN friend groups.
Ambassador Philippe Kridelka, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the UN, declared that Vietnam has a strong voice and has gained trust from the world, especially from countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the US.
The UK’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Barbara Woodward, highlighted that Vietnam directly engaged in settling many important issues, proving that Vietnam’s contributions are valuable.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that as the President of the Council (in January 2020 and April 2021), Vietnam showed ingenuity in the role of mediator and bridge in supporting the settlement of conflicts, creating a peaceful atmosphere among world powers.
Particularly, as the ASEAN Chair in 2020 and the only ASEAN representative at the UNSC, Vietnam upheld the central role of the association in coping with regional security issues, as well as strengthening cooperation between ASEAN and the UNSC as well as the UN as a whole.
Ambassador Nathalie Estival-Broadhurst, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the UN, said that Vietnam has been very successful in connecting ASEAN with the UNSC. Meanwhile, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), underscored Vietnam’s contributions to promoting the comprehensive partnership between ASEAN and the UN.
Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the UN, underlined that Vietnam has made considerable contributions to the enhancement of the voice and image of the ASEAN at the UNSC.
Meanwhile, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the UN Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo asserted that by adding ASEAN matters to the UNSC agenda, Vietnam has helped to raise the bloc’s image to a new level and enhance relations between regional organisations and the UN, especially the UNSC.
Looking back on the active and effective contributions that Vietnam has made to the UNSC, Director-General of the UN Office Tatiana Valovaya hailed during a meeting with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc in late November Vietnam’s excellent performance as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for 2020-2021 with many initiatives and practical contributions to global issues.
As a non-permanent member of the UNSC, Vietnam has vividly demonstrated its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralization and diversification of external relations, and comprehensive and extensive international integration.
Though once a poor country relying on aid, Vietnam has now become an active and responsible partner, making meaningful contributions to the UN’s efforts in addressing global issues pertaining to peace, security and development worldwide. Vietnam brought to the table the confidence of a peace-loving and humble nation that upholds humanistic values, altruism and justice, and a country with a glorious history of national construction and protection. Vietnam was also able to assert the distinctive identity of its diplomatic service in the Ho Chi Minh era.
This process also bears testimony to a dynamic and innovative Vietnam and conveys a powerful message of the vision and aspiration for a strong and prosperous country by 2045, as outlined in the 13th National Party Congress.
Vietnam’s efforts at the UNSC, and the overall accomplishments of external affairs, have contributed to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment conducive to the country’s development and comprehensive integration. Such endeavours have helped elevate Vietnam’s stature, and add greater depth and effectiveness to Vietnam’s ties with other countries and important partners./.
