Ambassador Burhan Gafoor (C), head of Singapore's mission to the UN, is pictured with Vietnamese UN Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy (L) and Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung at the UN headquarters in New York (Photo posted to Gafoor's Twitter account on June 7, 2019.)

Ambassador Burhan Gafoor, head of Singapore’s mission to the UN, wrote on Twitter that “Congratulations Vietnam on being elected to UNSC with highest number of votes.”

“[I am] honored to cast vote for Vietnam, on behalf of Singapore,” he said.

“Singapore has excellent ties with Vietnam and we are confident they will serve with distinction,” he added.

UK Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward congratulated Vietnam on his Facebook page, saying the UK will strengthen cooperation with Vietnam.

Australian Ambassador to the UN Gillian Bird congratulated five countries elected to the non-permanent membership of the UNSC for 2020-2021, namely Vietnam, Estonia, Niger, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tunisia.

“Congratulating Vietnam on topping the UNSC ballot with 192 of 193 possible votes! And delighted to see two of our ASEAN neighbours - Indonesia and Vietnam - serving on the Security Council next year,” she tweeted.

Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Norikazu Suzuki shared joy over Vietnam’s election to the UNSC, and hoped the Southeast Asian country will promote its leading role in ensuring global peace and stability.

He told reporters from the Vietnam News Agency that Japan is glad when Vietnam won a non-permanent seat at the UNSC.

Congratulations to all Vietnamese people, he said.

Japan wants to partner with Vietnam to promote the leadership in ASEAN and Asia-Pacific for regional stability and prosperity, he said.

The UNSC is one of the six main agencies of the UN with 15 member states, including five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected for a two-year term.

UNSC seat enables Vietnam to contribute more to global peace

Representatives from other UN member countries and territories congratulate Vietnam on the election to the UN Security Council

Vietnam’s non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for 2020-2021, which earned a record high number of 192 votes out of the 193 member countries and territories of the UN General Assembly, enables the Southeast Asian country to make more remarkable contributions to the world’s peace, development and prosperity.

This election result meets the aspiration of all Vietnamese people and proves that after over 30 years of reforms and international integration, the prestige, role and position of Vietnam within the framework of the UN and on the global arena have been increasing.

Following the country’s UNSC non-permanent membership win, Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong sent a message to thank the international community for recognising the role and contributions of Vietnam in regional and international works as well as affirm that Vietnam will spare no effort to fulfill the mission of a non-permanent member of the UNSC, deserving to be a reliable partner for sustainable peace.

Vietnam’s election to the UNSC for the second time reaffirmed the country’s determination in the implementation of foreign policy of peace, independence, cooperation and development, and it is the highest manifestation of the country’s foreign policy of multilateralisation, diversification, and active and responsible participation in international forums and organisations, the leader said.

According to UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra, with the election to the UNSC, Vietnam will have more opportunities to prove its ability and play an important role in regional and global events.

Vietnam served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2008-2009 tenure, which was the first time the country joined the UN’s most important agency for global peace and security.

During the tenure, Vietnam implemented a foreign policy of peace and made contributions to addressing world conflicts and crisis while backing peaceful negotiations and restriction of sanctions, based on international law and principles of the UN Charter.

Apart from fully participating in 1,500 meetings of the UN Security Council, Vietnam actively got involved in all matters and in all stages of work in the council, through making speeches, joining in negotiations, contributing to the drafting of resolutions and documents, and serving as chair and vice chair of some subcommittees of the council. It chaired the negotiations and compilation of the council’s resolution on women and security peace.

As a representative of Asia, Vietnam pushed the peaceful settlement of regional issues as well as well matters in other regions like Africa and the Middle East.

At the same time, the country was able to flexibly handle its relations with powerful countries and those with common interests and traditional relations based on respecting and protecting the legitimate interests of stakeholders.

Becoming the UNSC non-permanent member for 2020-2021 is an important milestone in Vietnam’s implementation of the 12th National Party Congress Resolution which guides the multilateral diplomatic work to “proactively integrate into and promote the country’s role in multilateral mechanisms, especially ASEAN and the UN”, and the Party Secretariat Directive No. 25 CT/TW dated August 8, 2018 which asks the multilateral diplomatic work to “strive to play a leading or mediatory role in multilateral organisations and forums having strategic importance to the country.”

Global press impressed by Vietnam’s high votes at UNSC

Vietnam won a record high number of 192 votes out of the 193 UN member countries and territories.

The international press has highlighted Vietnam’s fresh election to the UN Security Council (UNSC) for 2020-2021 with a record high number of 192 votes out of the 193 UN member countries and territories.

This is the second time Vietnam has won the election, helping the country promote its success in the previous 2008-2009 tenure and make more active contributions to the UN and the UNSC in particular.

With the title “Vietnam elected as new U.N. Security Council member”, Japanese Mainichi newspaper said in the lead-up to the elections, Vietnam campaigned on key issues such as promoting preventive diplomacy, which put the Southeast Asian nation on the map when it hosted the second summit between DPRK leader Kim Kong-un and US President Donald Trump.

Vietnam also stressed the importance of multilateralism, promoting sustainable development, tackling climate change and promoting human rights, among other issues, the newspaper said.

Mainichi reviewed the history when Vietnam became a member of the UN in 1977 and took the role of a non-permanent member of the UNSC for 2008-2009.

It stated that Vietnam contributed 73 personnel to two UN peacekeeping missions, with most being stationed in South Sudan.

China Daily and AFP reported that the UN General Assembly on June 7 elected Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam as non-permanent members of UN Security Council for 2020-2021.

Vietnam was the only representative of the Asian-Pacific region to run for the post, receiving the highest votes in favour. Nigeria and Tunisia both received 191 votes, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 185, and Estonia 132.

According to Washington Times, Vietnam’s importance in international security has risen sharply since the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit was held in the central coastal city of Da Nang in 2017.

The second summit between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States of America (USA) in February 2019 also successfully placed host country Vietnam in the peacemaker role spotlight, it said.

According to AP, countries often plan for years to campaign for a spot at the UN Security Council, 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.

VNA

Vietnam wins election to UNSC

Vietnam officially won the election to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for 2020-2021 after getting 192 votes out of the 193 member countries and territories of the UN General Assembly on June 7.  

Vietnam carefully prepares for non-permanent seat at UNSC: Spokeswoman

Vietnam is making meticulous preparations and sharing experience with countries, UN agencies and international research organisations to get ready for participation in the UNSC for the 2020-2021 term.