Promoting effective cooperation with the United Nations (U.N.) is always a top priority of Vietnam’s foreign policies, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said while addressing a ceremony to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of Vietnam’s membership to the U.N. in Hanoi on October 17^th.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the ceremony to mark the 40^th anniversary of Vietnam's membership to the United Nations in International Conventional Centre, Hanoi. (Photo: VGP)

Since its establishment in 1945, the U.N. has been leading in the world in peacekeeping activities, preventing conflicts, promoting cooperation and development, and ensuring human rights, the PM said.

He recalled the event on September 20^th, 1977 when the U.N. General Assembly admitted Vietnam as the 149^th member, which marks the U.N.’s recognition of the independence, freedom and unification of the Southeast Asian country, progressing to “Doi moi” (renewal) and international integration.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Government and people, the PM thanked the U.N. and international community for their valuable assistance for Vietnam over the past four decades.

He noted that development and cooperation targets could only be achieved in the condition of peace and stability, which is particularly meaningful to the Asian-Pacific region.

Vietnam hopes the U.N. will further promote its role in maintaining peace, international security, preventing and accelerating the settlement of disputes via peaceful means and on the basis of respecting the U.N. Chapter and international law, he said.

Vietnam pledges to continue to be a member of U.N. agencies and expand peacekeeping operation as well as implement the sustainable development agenda and the Paris agreement on climate change, he said.

The country hopes to receive international support to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure, he added.

The PM also called on the U.N., development partners and international friends to continuously support Vietnam to implement successfully its renewal process to achieve sustainable development and prosperity.

U.N. Resident Coordinator to Vietnam Kamal Malhotra speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: VGP)

On this occasion, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a congratulatory message to the Vietnamese people and Government, saying that the international community has considered Vietnam, with numerous efforts in Doi moi, as a successful example of development.

He applauded Vietnam’s commitments to the South-South Cooperation and affirmed the UN’s commitment to continue strong cooperation with the country, while expressing his hope that the country will further engage in U.N. peacekeeping operations.

In his speech, U.N. Resident Coordinator to Vietnam Kamal Malhotra highly valued Vietnam-UN cooperation over the past four decades. He hailed Vietnam’s efforts in achieving most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) before 2015, voicing his belief that with its strong political resolve and experience in the MDGs realisation, the country will attain the Sustainable Development Goals with greater results.

From an ODA receiver, Vietnam has become a development partner, actively contributed to the maintenance of international peace and security, and helped to prevent and peacefully solve disputes and conflicts in the world on the basis of the U.N. Charter, he noted.

Malhotra said U.N. organisations will continue supporting the country to deal with challenges through high-level policy consultation, experience sharing, and expertise provision, thus helping to carry out innovative and feasible solutions towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and U.N. Resident Coordinator to Vietnam Kamal Malhotra cut the ribbon launching the exhibition of the 40-year relationship between Vietnam and the U.N. (Photo: VGP)

As part of the ceremony, PM Phuc and Resident Coordinator Malhotra cut the ribbon to launch an exhibition of the 40-year relationship between Vietnam and the U.N.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and U.N. Representative Coordinator Kamal Maholtra attended the ceremony, together with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh; Minister, Chairman of the Office of the Government Mai Tien Dung and Representatives from other relevant ministries, departments and many other representatives from Embassies to Vietnam, U.N. agencies and international organasations in Hanoi./.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and delegates view the exhibition’s photos. (Photo: VGP)

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