Vietnam makes int'l headlines as new UN Security Council member

Singapore's CNA article.

From The Washing Post, The New York Time, AP (US); Xinhua, South China Morning Post, China Daily (China); AFP (France); Kyodo, Mainichi (Japan); Channel News Asia (Singapore); Business Standard (India); Prensa Latina (Cuba)

Japan’s Kyodo ran a headline about Vietnam’s victory. The article highlighted the Vietnamese Government’s efforts to run for the UNSC’s seat. “In the lead-up to the elections, the country campaigned on key issues such as promoting preventative diplomacy, which put the Southeast nation on the map when it hosted the second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un,” it wrote.

Kyodo's article.

The article also quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung stressing the importance of multilateralism, promoting sustainable development, tackling climate change and promoting human rights, among other issues.

"We have good relations with both the U.S. and the DPRK," he said and emphasised how Vietnam normalized ties with Washington decades after the war ended in 1975 and also had experience with economic reforms.

“The coveted seats are allocated by global regions. Countries often plan for years to campaign for a spot, which can raise a nation’s profile in international affairs and afford it a strong voice on the world’s most pressing peace and security issues. The council also provides a platform for bringing up international topics of particular concern to those who hold seats at the horseshoe-shaped table,” the US’s Associated Press (AP) reported.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (1st R, 3rd row) celebrates with his delegation after Vietnam was elected one of the five non-permanent members of UN Security Council, at the UN headquarters in New York, June 7, 2019. Photo: Xinhua/Li Muzi

With near unanimous approval, Vietnam has secured a seat on the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member for the 2020-2021 tenure.

According to the results announced at 11:10pm (New York time), after the very first round of votes were counted, Vietnam earned approval from 192 out of 193 voting countries and territories late on Friday during the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The result represented a record, with the landslide one of the largest in the history of the United Nations.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh tweeted that Việt Nam is “proud and honoured to be elected” and that the country would “undertake the duties of a Council member to the best of our abilities to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security.”

Vietnam’s delegation celebrates after Vietnam was elected one of the five non-permanent members of UN Security Council, at the UN headquarters in New York, June 7, 2019. China Xinhua News (@XHNews).

After the results were announced, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung at the UN headquarter received congratulations from many countries. He later held talks with the foreign press to express Vietnam’s gratitude and to reaffirm Vietnam’s commitments to become a constructive and responsible member of the council, and live up to the confidence the international community has placed in Vietnam.

Trung said for its term as a Council member, Vietnam will focus on promoting multilateralism and international law, cooperation between the Council and regional organisations, post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding, as well as civilian protection during conflicts.

This marks the second time Vietnam has won the position on the council, following its first stint during the 2008-2009 period.

Among the six candidates, two are from Africa, one from Latin America, one from Eastern Europe, and one from Asia-Pacific.

As the only candidate representing Asia-Pacific, Vietnam was set to replace Kuwait at the UNSC from January 1, 2020./.

VNF