Viet Nam's UNSC Presidency: Building Trust and Dialogue, Intensifying ASEAN’s Role
	Modern Diplomacy: Vietnam well poised to meet challenges of new era
	State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to chair UNSC’s high-level open debate

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs the UNSC's high-level open debate (Photo: VNA)

In his capacity as President of the United Nations Security Council in April 2021, Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on April 19 chaired a High-level Open Debate on "Cooperation between the UN and regional organizations in enhancing confidence-building and dialogue in conflict prevention and resolution", which was held in both online and in-person formats.

The debate was attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and senior leaders of 15 UNSC member states and five regional organizations.

This is the first time a senior Vietnamese leader has presided over an important activity of the UNSC, sending the highest-level message of orientations, visions, and aspirations for development, foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and friendship of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam; and strongly affirming the country’s voice, position, commitment and responsible contributions to multilateralism, the UN and common efforts for peace and development in the world.

This is the first time a senior Vietnamese leader has presided over an important activity of the UNSC. (Photo: VNA)

This is also Mr. Phuc’s first important multilateral diplomatic event since he took office. The debate was on the role of regional organizations in promoting trust-building and dialogue in conflict prevention and resolution, said VOV.

In his speech, President Phuc emphasized the importance of trust, confidence, and dialogue in international relations and highly appreciated the cooperation between regional organizations and the UN in conflict prevention and resolution. "Trust, confidence, and dialogue lay the solid foundation for international relations. Rising from the ashes and sorrows of World War II, the UN has become the very symbol of our deep conviction and mutual trust in multilateralism and multi-tiered international cooperation.

Guided by such faith, many regional organizations were established and have since thrived. Our briefers today, representing organizations from various regions, will give us an overall picture of their active contributions to conflict prevention and resolution, and facilitation of dialogue, peace and reconciliation processes."

Vietnamese delegates attend the UNSC's high-level open debate (Photo: VNA)

The President highlighted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s comprehensive and important achievements: "As an active ASEAN member, having just fulfilled its role as the 2020 ASEAN Chair, Vietnam takes great pride in ASEAN’s success in building a region of peace, cooperation, trust and dialogue, and a cohesive and responsive ASEAN Community, striving toward an open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based regional architecture."

On this basis, President Phuc put forward three proposals. First, the interactions and complementarities between the UN and regional organizations are inherent. Second, the UN and regional organizations should 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 dialogues. Third, it is necessary to continue enhancing cooperation between the UNSC and regional organizations through dialogue and co-frameworks, and early warning mechanisms for volatilities, Vietnam Plus cited.

Delegates took a group photo at the event. VUFO President, Ms. Nguyen Phuong Nga (in blue) also attended the debate. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang said this is the most important task of the UN Security Council, to prevent wars and conflicts and maintain international peace and security. He said, “Vietnam supports close cooperation between the UN and regional organizations in preventing and resolving conflicts. Regional organizations and UN members should take responsibility for maintaining peace and stability in their region.”

According to Mr. Giang, “the most effective way to prevent conflicts is to respect the UN Charter and international laws, especially the principles of respecting independence, national sovereignty, and non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations.” Deputy Minister Giang said relations between states should be based on trust, resolving disagreements through peaceful dialogue, and not using or threatening the use of force. It’s necessary to address poverty and underdevelopment, the roots of conflicts, he noted.

Ms. Nga served as Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations from 2014 to 2018. (Photo: VNA)

Also in the debate, President Phuc chaired the approval of the UNSC President’s Statement proposed by Vietnam with the aim of affirming the connection between the UN/UNSC and regional organizations in conflict prevention and resolution with trust-building and dialogue being essential factors. The statement called on regional organizations to uphold their support roles and put forward recommendations for conflict prevention and resolution to member states in line with the UN Charter and relevant agreements. It also proposed the UN Secretary-General suggest solutions to promote trust-building measures and dialogue in the coming time.

Delegates attend the UNSC's high-level open debate on April 19 (Photo: VNA)

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