The Ministry of National Defence on January 2 held a ceremony to hand over the decisions of the State President and the Minister of National Defence to the officers.
According to Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director of the ministry’s Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VDPO), among the officers, six will take on various positions including training and equipment advisors, and analysis, communications, and intelligence staff at MINUSCA. The others will serve as a staff officer and a military observer at UNMISS.
Thang stated that the officers selected are distinguished military personnel who have undergone thorough training to meet the requirements of both the UN and the Ministry of National Defence in performing peacekeeping missions.
In his speech at the event, Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, who is also Chairman of the ministry's steering committee on participation in the UN peacekeeping operations, expressed his belief that regardless of their positions, the officers will successfully complete their missions and live up to their roles as peace ambassadors of Vietnam, contributing to spreading the images of Uncle Ho's soldiers, Vietnam, and its people.
He required the officers to ensure absolute safety during their missions, uphold the spirit of self-reliance, overcome all difficulties proactively and creatively. He underlined the need for them to closely coordinate, regularly share experience and information, and support each other to successfully perform their mission.
He applauded Vietnam's commitment to sending more officers to peacekeeping missions in various positions and areas, particularly increasing the number of female ones.
As of now, Vietnam has sent nearly 1,100 personnel to UN peacekeeping operations at three missions and the UN Headquarters. Currently, the VDPO is actively preparing to establish the Engineering Unit Rotation 4 and the Level-2 Field Hospital No. 7, with plans for deployment in 2025.
