New state president stresses faith in UNSC

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc sending a message of peace and cooperation to the world

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that Vietnam was honoured to assume the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the second time.

“With the aspiration to become a peaceful and prosperous nation, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community, Vietnam remains steadfast in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, and multilateralisation of relations, promoting international integration and actively contributing to the efforts of the UN and the UNSC,” he stated at last week’s high-level open debate of the council on cooperation between the UN and regional organisations in enhancing confidence-building and dialogue in conflict prevention and resolution.

“Faithful to our motto of partnership for sustainable peace, Vietnam will spare no effort to strengthen the cooperation between the UN and regional organisations, including ASEAN, and elevate such ties, for peace, security, and development around the world,” the president stressed.

While peace, cooperation, and development continue as the prevailing trend and fervent aspirations of all countries and peoples, the world is riddled with challenges. In the past five years, conflicts have taken away half a million lives across the globe. In 2020 alone, the world recorded 20 million refugees, over 50 million people displaced due to conflicts, and around 170 million in need of humanitarian assistance. These are the people who are left behind, and call upon the UNSC to take action.

Against other major challenges such as COVID-19, natural disasters, severe climate change, border and territorial disputes and conflicts, and geo-strategic competition, increased international unity is more crucial than ever.

“Yet,” State President Phuc said, “the paradox at present lies in our waning trust in one another and in multilateral institutions. The strengthening of unity is of great necessity, starting with the cooperation between the UN and the UNSC with regional organisations in our joint efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts through dialogue and confidence-building.”

Vietnam has underscored three proposals. Firstly, the interactions and complementarities between the UN and regional organisations are inherent. They offer a “two-way linkage” to share knowledge and coordinate joint endeavours. The UN should take the lead in increasing cooperation activities and exchanges of experience and best practices in confidence-building and dialogue to prevent conflicts.

On the other hand, regional organisations, with their unique strengths in practical experience, resources, and diverse demands, should bolster cooperation with the UN, engage in dialogues, and share experience at various forums to enhance capacity in preventing and resolving conflicts.

Secondly, it is necessary to further promote the role of multilateralism and uphold the UN Charter and international law, for this is the most concrete and solid foundation to build trust and promote dialogue.

Moreover, early conflict prevention requires inclusive and comprehensive solutions to address the root causes of conflicts, such as poverty, hunger, inequality, and violence. The international community should strive to fulfill the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and other global security and development strategies and initiatives led by the UN, paying greater attention and giving adequate assistance to developing countries who face serious resources’ constraints.

On their part, regional organisations need to have comprehensive agendas, and integrate the UN’s development frameworks and initiatives into their national and regional development plans. They should also strive to narrow political, economic and cultural gaps amongst themselves. In Southeast Asia, ASEAN is making every effort to fulfill the goal of building an ASEAN Community united in politics, diverse in culture, connected in economy, and with increased cooperation with external partners.

As an active ASEAN member, Vietnam has effectively placed COVID-19 under control, enjoyed a high economic growth rate, and actively engaged in international integration.

Thirdly, it is necessary to continue enhancing cooperation between the UNSC and regional organisations through dialogue and cooperation frameworks, and early warning mechanisms for volatilities.

The UNSC needs to continue acknowledging and respecting the perspectives, role, and contributions of regional organisations. It is also needed to mainstream conflict prevention and resolution strategies via dialogue and confidence-building in UN missions, and create favourable conditions for regional organisations to uphold their central role.

In response, regional organisations should further strengthen their proactive and leading role in preventing and resolving conflicts in accordance with international law and the UN Charter. This can only be achieved when each and every member state has strategic trust in each other and share a common political resolve.

Vietnam, which joined the UN in 1977, is rated by the UN and the international community to be a successful model in implementing the UN Millennium Development Goals, and a nation with success and seriousness in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which set out a 15-year plan to achieve the goals and the Paris Agreement on responding to climate change.

Vietnam has also actively boosted initiatives on reforming the organisation. In particular, it is one of the nations taking the lead in carrying out the UN initiative of Delivering as One in order to achieve better operational effectiveness of the UN on a national level.