Ambassador Duong Chi Dung, head ofVietnam's permanent missionto theUnited NationsinGeneva

In opening the session, Ambassador Dung stressed theimportance of cooperation in the framework of multi-lateral frameworks toaddress increasingly complicated common challenges to international peace andsecurity.

He recalled Vietnam’s contributions when it served asPresident of the CD for the first time in 2009, and underlined the country’scommitment to making continued contributions to peace and security,particularly when it was just elected to a non-permanent seat in the UnitedNations Security Council for 2020-2021 and will take up the rotary Chair of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations in 2020.

The Ambassador shared Vietnam’s priorities and tasksas CD President, especially holding simultaneous consultations with membercountries, CD Presidents in 2019, coordinators and the secretariats, to gainunderstanding of all sides’ concerns and thus seek solutions to existingobstacles.

Under Vietnam’s initiative, forthe first time in CD’s history ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi was invitedto attend and speak at the plenary.

The Secretary General reiteratedASEAN’s commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, andintroduced the main contents of the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-FreeZone Treaty (SEANWFZ). He called on countries with nuclear weapons to join the SEANWFZ for the effective implementation of the treaty.     

During discussions, countriesaffirmed their support of Vietnam’s initiatives and efforts in the CDframework. They appreciated the role and contributions of regionalorganisations, including the ASEAN, in the field of disarmament in particularand in maintaining international peace and security in general.

On behalf of the EU, Romaniavoice support of ASEAN’s central role in maintaining peace and security in theregion, preventing conflicts and actively seeking a solution to the Koreaissue.                  

In 2019, Vietnam along withUkraine, the UK, the US, Venezuela and Zimbabwe serve as President of the CD ona rotary basis.-VNA