The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, on February 21 thanked Vietnam for its strong support for as well as personnel contributions to UN peacekeeping operations.
Bilateral and multilateral defence diplomacy has been carried out in a proactive, flexible, creative, effective, and substantive manner, continuing to serve as one of the pillars in Vietnam’s diplomacy and help raise the country’s role, stature, and prestige in the world.
“Let us live in peace and love. Let us forget the last things”. These words are written on a blackboard at a school in Bentiu town in South Sudan. Just a few words, but they leave a strong impression. They reflect a desire to live in peace, with stability and development, by not only children but all people of South Sudan.
The peacekeeping force of Vietnam has made considerable contributions over the past years, which have won the recognition and high evaluation from the United Nations and international friends, thereby helping to promote the country’s stature and prestige in the region and the world.
Ho Chi Minh City’s Vietnam Youth Federation held an exchange programme on April 15 between 24 Vietnamese peacekeepers who have returned from the UN mission in South Sudan and over 500 local young people.
Vietnam will strive to outstandingly perform its role as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) President in April, significantly contributing to realising the foreign policy set by the 13th National Party Congress.
The President of Vietnam during the 2016-2021 tenure has effectively fulfilled his tasks, jurisdiction and duties in accordance with the Constitution, as well as tasks assigned by the Politburo and the Secretariat during the, a report has said.
Deputy Minister of Defence, Sen. Lieut. Gen Nguyen Chi Vinh, has expressed a hope that Vietnam will continue to send peacekeeping forces to more areas and plant more Vietnamese flags on the world peacekeeping map.
Vietnam’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations is a major policy of the Party and State and also a step towards realising the country’s policy of intensive and comprehensive integration into the world.
Images of Vietnam’s flag flying at the Army Games 2020, UN peacekeeping operations, and ASEAN meetings over the years prove the significant role of defence diplomacy in improving the prestige and position of the army and the country in the international arena.
Defence diplomacy is not only an external task of the Ministry of National Defence or the army but also associated with national independence, sovereignty, and interests of Vietnam, as well as security and peace in the region and the world.