VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam, since it became an official member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1976, has actively participated in activities to strengthen solidarity and enhance the role of the movement, striving for the common goals of peace, national independence, democracy and social advancement.

Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. (Source: VNA)

"Viet Nam always considers contributions to NAM an important part of its foreign policy of openness, diversification and multilateralisation of relations, and willingness to become a friend and reliable partner of all countries," Minh said.

Over the past five decades, NAM had gathered the forces of developing countries and actively supported the struggle for national independence, peace and the fight for a new international economic order, said the Deputy FM.

NAM's noble objectives and principles since its early day have now become standards which are widely acknowledged in modern international relations and a source of strength that helps the movement overcome challenges. The most outstanding principles include respecting equality and sovereignty, not interfering in other countries' internal affairs, strengthening friendship, not using or threatening to use force in relations among nations as well as the peaceful settlement of international issues on the basis of international law.

Minh went on to say that world and regional situations would see rapid and profound developments in the near future, which would require countries to strengthen co-ordination to solve common challenges.

Therefore, NAM was expected to set out measures to strengthen solidarity and dynamism, and its role in international relations and co-ordination in multilateral forums in both politics and economics as well as in other global issues, striving for a more equal and democratic new world order that ensured the interests of developing countries, he stressed.

According to Minh, in the 16th NAM Ministerial Meeting in Indonesia from May 24-27, themed "A common vision of NAM's contributions over the next 50 years", the movement's orientation was discussed and measures were put forward to strengthen its role and position in addressing global issues, protecting the legitimate interests of its members and developing countries, and pushing for the peaceful settlement of conflicts.

At the meeting, the Vietnamese delegation proposed that NAM should actively raise its voice in dealing with major international issues such as the UN reshuffle, the implementation of Millennium Development Goals, the acceleration of the Doha negotiations and responses to global crises and challenges, Minh said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News