Article 4: Vietnam’s imprint in peacekeeping mission

(CPV) –After 8 years of sending forces to participate in peacekeeping operations, Vietnam has spread the message of a peace-loving and dynamic country which  always ready to make more contributions to UN joint work for peace, security and development.

The UN recognizes Vietnam's positive contributions

From June 7 to 10, for the first time, Vietnam hosted the Annual General Meeting and Workshop of the Association of Asia-Pacific Peace Operations Training Centres (AAPTC) 2022. The conference was organized by Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations in collaboration with international partners and relevant agencies under the Ministry of National Defense.

This has affirmed the role and responsibility of the current AAPTC President and Host, enhancing Vietnam's international position in cooperation on UN peacekeeping in the Asia-Pacific region, making practical contributions to improving the effectiveness of member countries' participation in UN peacekeeping activities in the region; affirming and highlighting Vietnam's success in COVID-19 prevention and control and quickly adapting to the new situation in a safe and effective manner; and promoting Vietnam's achievements and contributions to UN peacekeeping activities.

For the first time, Vietnam hostsed the Annual General Meeting and Workshop of the Association of Asia-Pacific Peace Operations Training Centres (AAPTC) 2022. (Photo: Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations)

Major General Hoang Kim Phung, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said that in the process of participating in UN peacekeeping operations, Vietnam's forces have shown a high level of readiness to complete the task with the UN’s very positive assessment. So far, Vietnam has deployed 512 military officers and soldiers to three UN missions and headquarters, including four level-2 field hospitals, an engineering unit and 76 officers in individual form.

In an online speech at the meeting at UN headquarters in New York (USA), General Birame Diop, military adviser to UN Peace Operations Department, said that UN peacekeeping activities always pose challenges to forces participating in peacekeeping because of the highest qualifications and ethical requirements in performing their duties. The General highly appreciated the peacekeeping forces of AAPTC member countries at the missions for their tireless efforts to maintain the peacekeeping missions to protect the most vulnerable people in the world. On this occasion, General Birame Diop also expressed his recognition of contributions and thanks for Vietnam's commitments to UN peacekeeping activities.

General Birame Diop, Military Advisor of UN Peace Operations Department acknowledged Vietnam's contributions to UN peacekeeping operations (Photo: Manh Quan)

Previously, in February 2022, talking about Vietnam's participation in peacekeeping operations, UN Deputy Secretary-General in charge of peace activities Jean-Pierre Lacroix thanked Vietnam for its strong support for UN peacekeeping operations, as well as Vietnam's contributions in terms of personnel to the UN. Mr. Lacroix emphasized that Vietnam has sent troops to join the UN Peacekeeping Force since 2014 and since then, it has always made many positive contributions in this field.

According to the UN Deputy Secretary General, Vietnam first deployed a level-2 field hospital for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in October 2018. He assessed that Vietnam's level-2 field hospital in South Sudan has played an important role in the overall success of the UN Mission in this African country, ensuring health and medical conditions for officers and soliders participating in UN, especially during the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

He highly appreciated the professionalism, dedication, efforts and sacrifices of Vietnamese soldiers when they had to perform their duties in difficult environments. He also expressed his condolences to Lieutenant Colonel Do Anh, who had died earlier this year while on duty at the UN Mission in the Central African Republic.

Also talking about Vietnam's contributions to participating in UN peacekeeping activities, Ms. Caitlin Wiesen - Chief Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Vietnam highly appreciated Vietnam's commitment to promote the participation of female soldiers in these activities. She said that Vietnam sent its first female officer to join the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan in 2018. Since then, the proportion of women in Vietnam's peacekeeping force has increased steadily and is currently at a higher rate than other countries in the region. As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period 2020-2021, Vietnam plays a pioneering role in the region in promoting women's participation in peacekeeping operations and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

Ms. Caitlin Wiesen - Chief Representative of the UN Development Program (wearing blue clothes) takes aphoto with members of Level-2 Field Hospital No. 4 before leaving for duty (Photo: Kieu Giang)

It can be said that Vietnam's participation in UN peacekeeping activities has created positive effects in the field of foreign affairs in general and defense diplomacy in particular, as a premise for the country to integrate more deeply and comprehensively; contributing to increasing Vietnam's role in handling large and complex world issues such as conflict resolution and maintaining a common peaceful environment.

Vietnam is ready to shoulder UN joint work

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ooking back on history, on September 20, 1977, Vietnam became a UN official member, marking the recognition of the international community for a peaceful, unified, independent, free and democratic Vietnam.

Over the past 45 years, Vietnam has always considered cooperation with UN a top priority in its foreign policy, an effective way to show Vietnam as an active and responsible member of the international community.

With its effective efforts and contributions to UN’s activities and development, Vietnam has been trusted by the international community and elected to many important UN agencies, especially the Socio-economic Council (terms 1998-2000 and 2016-2018); The Executive Council of UN Development Program, UN Population Fund (2000-2002), the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (2013-2014), the UN Human Rights Council (2014 – 2016), the Executive Council of the United Nations Educational, the Scientific and Cultural Organization (2015-2019), the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (2018-2019), International Law Committee (2017-2021). Especially, Vietnam successfully assumed the role of a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-2009 term and continues to hold this responsibility in the 2020 -2021 term.

Photos of Vietnam's activities during 45 years as a member of the UN (Photo source: VNA, The World and Vietnam Report)

Being a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term for the second time, the international community not only appreciates the peace-loving tradition, independent foreign policy and the promotion of international cooperation, but also recognizes Vietnam's achievements in integration, support and contribution to the world's common goals and efforts.

Vietnam's participation in UN peacekeeping operations marks an important milestone in the process of international integration and cooperation with the UN, as it expands its contribution of human resources to UN common work. P     articipating in UN peacekeeping activities much later than other countries, Vietnam is highly appreciated by the UN for its strong political commitment, long-term contribution to the common mission, actively joining activities and as well as professional capacity of the “blue beret” force.

The National Assembly's adoption of Resolution 130/2020/QH14 on joining UN peacekeeping force is a living proof of the Government of Vietnam's commitment to participate in and make long-term contributions to UN peacekeeping activities. Although the COVID-19 pandemic poses many challenges to UN peacekeeping operations, Vietnam has ensured its continued and effective participation in the field as well as pre-implementation training and willing preparation for forces.

Vietnamese “blue beret” soldiers carry the message of a friendly, peace-loving Vietnam when participating in UN peacekeeping missions (Photo: Kieu Giang)

At a meeting of the UN General Assembly on June 7, 2022, Vietnam has been elected as one of the Vice Presidents of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly’s 77th session, representing the Asia-Pacific region. Vietnam will take over this position for 1 year from September 13.

It can be said that over the past time, more than 500 Vietnamese soldiers participating in UN Peacekeeping Mission in Africa are Vietnam's "peace messengers". They have conveyed the message of a friendly, peace-loving, human Vietnam, ready to join hands to solve problems that the international community is facing. They also help Vietnam win the sympathy and support of the international community, contributing to creating position and strength for Vietnam to implement the strategy of protecting the Fatherland soon by peaceful means./.

Article 1: Vietnamese engineers perform an international mission for the first time

Article 2: Continuing peacekeeping mission of Vietnamese military medical staff

Article 3: Proud Vietnamese female soldiers in Africa