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The Ministry of National Defence leaders said the “blue-berret” soldier is a messenger of peace, connecting, sharing love, contributing to peace and happiness, and spreading a noble image of Vietnamese peacekeeping operations to international friends.

Attending the event were Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Senior General Pham Van Tra – former Minister of National Defense, General Do Ba Ty – former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, Vice President of Vietnam Women's Union Tran Lan Phuong, and chief representatives of international organizations in Vietnam.

Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien (third from left) presents the third-class Fatherland Protection Order to Engineering Unit Rotation 1 at the ceremony on May 27. Photo: VNA

Speaking at the celebration, Colonel Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said that 10 years ago, on May 27, 2014, the Ministry of National Defence established the Vietnam Peacekeeping Center, the predecessor of the current Department of Peacekeeping.

On this occasion, Vietnamese soldiers were sent to South Sudan for the first time to carry out a UN peacekeeping mission. Forces of the Vietnam People's Army, when participating in UN peacekeeping operations, helped the government and local people including participating in building and repairing roads, building schools and renovating classrooms, drilling water wells for local residential areas, and organizing medical examinations, health consultation and free medicine for local people.

With typical results in volunteer work, Vietnam’s Engineering Unit is highly appreciated by the UNISFA Mission Commander, local authorities, and people of the Abyei Region. Vietnam’s Engineering Unit’s arrival has changed the face of the Abyei Region and increased the prestige of the people in the region towards the UN Peacekeeping forces.

Delegates attended the flag-raising ceremony at the event. Photo: VGP

Director Colonel Pham Manh Thang said that over the last 10 years, the country has sent over 800 officers and professional soldiers to UN peacekeeping operations, including five detachments of the Level-2 field hospital to the UN Mission in South Sudan, two others of the engineering unit to the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei, and 114 officers deployed as individuals. He noted that the number of Vietnamese peacekeepers excellently fulfilling duties is much higher than the UN’s average.

He also took this occasion to thank leaders of the Party, the State, the Central Military Commission, the Defence Ministry, the inter-sectoral working group, the Defence Ministry’s steering committee for participation in UN peacekeeping operations, agencies and units across the army, along with international partners and organizations for assisting the VDPO in fulfilling the tasks assigned by the Party, State, and people and successfully carrying out UN peacekeeping duties.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Hoang Xuan Chien made a speech at the event. Photo: VGP

Deputy Minister Chien said the participation in UN peacekeeping operations has left a good impression on Vietnam, including the country’s military and public security forces, on the international community. It has also helped protect the Fatherland early and from afar by peaceful means and promoted the country’s stature and prestige in the international arena.

He expressed his belief that the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations will stay united, proactive, and creative while making efforts to surmount every difficulty and excellently fulfill all the assigned tasks.

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