The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will continue to help Vietnam enhance its capacity for joining UN peace-keeping operations, said UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra at an international conference held in Hanoi today. 

Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh speaks at the conference. Photo: Dieu Thuy

Mr. Kamal Malhotra pledged that the UNDP will also assist Vietnam in mobilising resources from international and national development partners, and provide the country with consultations on a long-term strategy in the sphere.

He encouraged other UN member countries supporting Vietnam in peacekeeping activities to work more closely with the UNDP representative in Vietnam so to provide the country with consistent, comprehensive and efficient coordination and assistance. 

Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh, head of the Vietnam Inter-sectoral Working Group for Participation in the UN Peacekeeping Operations and the Defence Ministry's Steering Committee for Participation in UN Peacekeeping Operations, stressed that joining UN peacekeeping operations is the sustainable and long-term political resolve of the Vietnamese Party, State and army.

The move signals the country’s responsibility for the international community and its aim to contribute to the global peace and consolidate national peace and stability, he said. 

Vietnam wishes to receive support in training and equipment from such countries as the US, Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Canada, the UK and France, among others. 

UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra. Photo: Dieu Thuy

Besides, Vietnam stands ready to share its experience and resources with other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in this area, the officer noted. 

Colonel Hoang Kim Phung, head of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, said Vietnam has sent 29 officers to UN peacekeeping missions, including a female, since 2014. 

In October, 2018, the country deployed a level-2 field hospital to South Sudan to take over a field hospital of the UK. 

Vietnam is working to consolidate the legal foundation and institutional capacity for its participation in UN peacekeeping operations, and prepare competent resources for the missions, he said. 

Delegates at the workshop looked into Vietnam’s plans and priorities in UN peacekeeping operations, challenges facing the country in this field, and how to improve capacity for the training centre of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department. 

The workshop saw the participation of US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink and UK Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward, among others.