UNGA 75 marks the 75th founding anniversary of the UN and 43 years of Vietnam’s admission to the largest multilateral organisation on the planet, in the context of Vietnam assuming the dual responsibility of ASEAN Chair 2020 and non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2020-2021.
The birth of the UN in 1945 reflected the common aspirations of the people of all countries for a world of peace, security and development. Over the past 75 years, the UN has become a broad global organisation with the participation of almost all independent countries on Earth and with a comprehensive system operating in diverse fields, ranging from the prevention and resolution of conflict, military disarmament, counter-terrorism, refugee protection and environmental protection to the promotion of democracy, human rights, gender equality and sustainable development. Thanks to its significant achievements, especially in key areas such as peace, security and development, strengthening international law, and ensuring and promoting human rights, the UN has been recognised by the international community as an organisation that plays an extremely important role in international political life and acts as an indispensable foundation for a more peaceful, prosperous and equal world.
Vietnam officially joined the UN on September 20, 1977. Over the past more than 40 years, Relations between Vietnam and the UN have been of great significance, from the period of post-war national reconstruction and escaping encirclement and embargo to the period of development and increasingly extensive international integration. Vietnam-UN cooperation has contributed to protecting and promoting Vietnam’s national interest, particularly in maintaining and consolidating a peaceful, secure and favourable environment for development; accelerating the country’s deeper international integration and strengthening its international role and position; and further deepening Vietnam’s relations with countries, key partners and friends, thereby taking advantage of international resources for national development.
Vietnam has made active, proactive and increasingly substantial contributions to the UN’s activities, upholding the role of the UN and multilateralism, and promoting respect for the UN Charter and international law, equal relations between countries, and self-determination of nations. Vietnam has also opposed acts of oppression, aggression and unilateral embargo in international relations, while contributing to the discussion and adoption of many important UN resolutions and declarations on development cooperation, disarmament, anti-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, counterterrorism, and assurance of human rights. Vietnam has been evaluated by the UN and the international community as a successful example of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and a country that is seriously determined in realising the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. The country has always actively promoted reform of the UN and is one of the countries taking the lead in the implementation of the UN’s “Delivering as One” initiative and actively participating in UN peacekeeping operations.
With its effective and responsible contributions, Vietnam has been trusted by the international community to hold many positions, and has left strong imprints in many important UN agencies, such as the UNSC, UN Human Rights Council, and the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). As a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the term 2020-2021, Vietnam continues to promote its role, actively and proactively participating in the Council’s affairs in the spirit of independence, self-reliance, responsibility and balance, as well as making substantial contributions to the process of negotiating and finding solutions to meet the international community’s common concerns, and working to promote cooperation between the UN and regional organisations.
Participating in this year’s UNGA, senior Vietnamese leaders have been invited to deliver video statements. Speeches by Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan convey messages on promoting multilateralism and the role of the UN, while stressing Vietnam’s pledge to continue making active, proactive and responsible contributions in the international community’s common affairs. Thereby, they affirm Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, and proactively and actively participating in multilateral mechanisms, contributing to building a fair, rules-based international political and economic order.
May UNGA 75 and Vietnamese leaders’ participation in the event be successful, contributing to promoting multilateralism and international cooperation to jointly respond to common challenges, prevent war and conflict, strengthen peace and boost mutually beneficial cooperation, and successfully realise sustainable development goals.
