PM highlights Vietnam’s multilateral diplomacy

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc

The interview took place as the PM prepares to lead a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to the High-Level General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, The event, themed “Making the UN Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable, and Sustainable Societies”, is scheduled to take place during September 25-October 1 in New York, the US.

He said the Party and State have long considered multilateral diplomacy an important pillar in Vietnam’s external policy. When the country gained independence, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter asking the UN to recognise Vietnam as an independent country and admit it as a UN member. During its fight for national liberation, Vietnam flexibly combined multilateral and bilateral external policies to create a united external front, pooling the support of international peace-loving friends.

Multilateral external activities, namely the 1954 Geneva Conference and the 1973 Paris Conference, contributed to ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam. In the wake of national reunification, Vietnam overcame embargoes and gradually joined international organisations. During its process of global integration, the country has signed a number of bilateral and multilateral economic and trade agreements, and strived to be a responsible member of various international organisations, a trustworthy partner, and an open and promising market.

Since its 1977 entry into the UN, the world’s largest multilateral organisation, Vietnam has been a responsible member, making positive contributions to each field of UN operations, and even one of the body’s pioneers in promoting global peace, progress, cooperation, and development.

Vietnam has also actively contributed to the building and enforcement of the UN’s international conventions and formation of a fair, transparent, and effective global multilateral mechanism, thus meeting the common aspirations of humankind.

Vietnam’s contributions have been welcomed by the international community, especially activities at the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Council, the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Socio-Economic Council, as well as many other UN agencies.

As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2008-2009 tenure, Vietnam contributed to common efforts to settle disputes in several areas, strengthened UN peacekeeping activities and raised specific initiatives to promote the role of women in the peace and security segment.

On the back of such successes, Vietnam has received support from multiple countries to seek a seat at the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure. The country has also actively contributed to the building and fulfilment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals until 2030 and taken the lead in adopting new cooperation models, including the “Towards Unity in Action, One UN” model.

Over the past three years, Vietnam has played a crucial role in and directed the drafting of an annual Resolution of the UN Human Rights Council on climate change response and the promotion of human rights.

In late 2016, a Vietnamese official was elected as Second Vice Chairman of the International Law Commission for the first time.

PM Phuc said Vietnam has actively participated in many important multilateral organisations and forums in the region and the world, such as the Francophone community, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

“Joining ASEAN, Vietnam has proved its role as an active and even proactive member, with many initiatives focused on building the ASEAN Community and the 2025 vision for a united, resilient and innovative ASEAN that plays a central role in regional security mechanisms,” he said.

Such activities have shown Vietnam’s new, pivotal position in multilateral diplomacy, he said, adding that from the position of a participating party, Vietnam has affirmed its capacity to directly contribute to shaping international and regional mechanisms for the peace and prosperity of humankind, thus improving the country’s stature.

The Government leader stated that the rapid and complicated developments of traditional and non-traditional challenges in the world today require the shared efforts of all countries and regions. The role of multilateral cooperation mechanisms, primarily the United Nations, is becoming more important than ever.

Vietnam has been consistent in promoting the basic principles of international law and the UN Charter in terms of: solving international conflicts and disputes by peaceful means on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; non-interference in the internal affairs of any country; and no use – or threaten to use of force, he affirmed.

Stepping up multilateral diplomacy in the spirit of Decree No.25 CT/TW – issued by the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee on August 8, 2018 – not only aims to improve the position, strength, and prestige of Vietnam on the international arena; but also reflects the trust of Vietnamese people in a world of multilateral dialogue with respect for international law, peace, and equal cooperation for development.

According to PM Phuc, the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly takes place amid rapid and complex changes in the world, with war, conflict, and poverty remaining severe challenges to the international community.

At the event, themed “Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies”, the PM and high-ranking leaders from the 193 UN member nations will discuss and propose effective measures to deal with global challenges to security and development, as well as ways to help the UN serve the interests of all nations and people in a more practical and effective manner.

“In attending this important event, the high-raking Vietnamese delegation and I will transmit a strong message that as an active member, and reliable and responsible partner of the international community, Vietnam vows to do its utmost, within its own capabilities and conditions, to make more effective contributions to the common affairs of the international community, towards a world of peace, cooperation, and development, as well as a fair, democratic, and rules-based international political and economic order,” he stressed.

As a country hit by many fierce wars, Vietnam deeply feels the pain and losses caused by war and treasures the value of peace. At the same time, Vietnam is also an exemplary narrative in overcoming poverty, healing the wounds of war, and reconciling contradictions.

From a poor, underdeveloped nation, Vietnam has made every effort to become a middle-income developing country since 2010 and one of the economies with rapid growth.

Vietnam has been held by the UN, the World Bank, and many other international institutions as one of the nations with a positive tale of poverty reduction and successful implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

“We will continue our pioneering role in responding to climate change in Asia and succeed in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and other important UN cooperation frameworks and agendas,” he said.

Vietnam wishes to learn from the international community, as well as share experience in boosting socio-economic development, reducing poverty, ensuring social security, and improving people’s living conditions.

Attending the UN activities this time round, Vietnam aims to take advantage of the available resources and opportunities for it own development as well as accelerate the realisation of UN action initiatives, plans, and priorities at national and regional levels.

Vietnam and the UN signed the joint One Strategic Plan (OSP) for the period from 2017 to 2021 between the Vietnamese Government and 18 UN agencies.

The OSP is built in accordance with Vietnam’s five-year 2016-2020 Socio-economic Development Plan, the SDGs, and the country’s international commitments on human rights.

The good implementation of these initiatives will help Vietnam achieve more inclusive growth goals in the future, thus raising its prestige and position at the UN as well as on the international arena.

This working trip is a chance for Vietnam to promote its achievements in economic and human development towards inclusive and sustainable goals, he said.

It also offers an opportunity for Vietnam to share and propose policy initiatives in promoting and ensuring human rights in line with the development context of each country, in particular regarding the rights of vulnerable groups and disabled workers, child labour, the trafficking of women, and climate change, he added.

Vietnam is not only a candidate of ASEAN, but also of the 54-member Asia-Pacific Group running for non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.

The country was honoured to undertake its mission during the 2008-2009 tenure and made important contributions which were hailed by international friends.

With its past experience, active and sincere spirit of cooperation, and support from the UN member states, the PM expressed his belief that Vietnam will successful fulfil all tasks at the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure, thus making greater contributions to peace, development, and prosperity worldwide.

Now in Africa, Vietnamese army officers are standing side-by-side with military counterparts from all over the world to accomplish the peacekeeping mission entrusted by the UN and international community, he said, adding that Vietnam is ready to join hands for a better future for humankind.