Vietnam’s 40-year UN membership marked in Geneva

He was addressing a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of Vietnam’s UN membership in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 14, which was attended by 500 ambassadors, delegation heads of countries and representatives of UN agencies, international organisations and the Vietnamese community in Geneva. 

Vietnam will intensify its participation in UN peacekeeping operations and the implementation of the UN’s Delivering as One (DaO) initiative in the country, while working with other ASEAN countries to deepen ties between ASEAN and the UN, the Deputy PM said.

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue speaks at the ceremony.

He used the occasion to call on countries to back Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council during 2020-2021.

The official stressed that Vietnam treasures its 40 years of cooperation with the UN, and appreciates the support of the UN, its member nations and international friends to Vietnam during post-war national reconstruction, reforms and international integration.  

He suggested the UN bring into full play its role in maintaining international peace and security, and preventing and handling conflicts by peaceful measures on the basis of respect for the UN Charter and international law. 

The UN should step up its partnerships and the effectuation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, he said. 

Secretary General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Mukhisa Kituyi congratulated Vietnam on its achievements over the past seven decades, especially since the country joined the UN 40 years ago. 

He applauded Vietnam’s contributions to UN missions and regulations as well as the country’s determination to materialise Sustainable Development Goals and implement a project on reforming and developing social assistance in 2017-2025. 

He highlighted Vietnam’s leading role in materialising the DaO initiative and the UN’s initiative in response to El Nino. 

Mukhisa Kituyi expressed his wish for enhanced ties between Vietnam and the UN in the next four decades. 

After the ceremony, the participants enjoyed an Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) performance and a photo exhibition on Vietnam. 

The same day, Deputy PM Hue had a working session with Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Klaus Schwab, and WEF Managing Director Philipp Rosler. 

He said Vietnam is preparing for the WEF’s participation in the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week slated for November in Vietnam’s central city of Da Nang as well as the WEF on ASEAN in 2018. 

Klaus Schwab hailed Vietnam’s development and economic reforms while Philipp Rosler pledged to continue encouraging and advising businesses of the WEF and Europe to operate in Vietnam, and supporting Vietnamese start-ups.

The two sides agreed to coordinate to implement their agreement on developing Vietnam’s economy in the future, and the WEF on ASEAN in 2018.