Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh (L) at the meeting with Earl Howe, Minister of State for the UK's Defence Ministry on September 7

Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh, who led the Vietnamese delegation, told Vietnam News Agency correspondents that the participants agreed on the UN’s reviews of countries’ contributions to the UN peacekeeping forces. They were informed about the UN’s urgent peacekeeping requirements at present. 

They approved a joint statement with a view to promoting the UN missions’ peacekeeping capacity as well as international cooperation in this sphere. 

The participating countries also pledged to coordinate more closely to improve the quality of peacekeeping operations through personnel training and women’s increased engagement in the UN peacekeeping forces, Vinh said. 

He noted that many delegates, especially those from powerful countries, expressed the willingness to take larger part in peacekeeping activities. They also asked the UN to make reforms to strengthen the management and readiness of peacekeeping forces. 

At the meeting, Vietnam called on UN peacekeepers to prioritise the issue of humanity, helping local people in nation rebuilding efforts, apart from ensuring peace. 

Vietnam also asked for enhanced international cooperation and mutual support, especially assistance for newcomers to peacekeeping operations like Vietnam, the deputy minister said. 

Those proposals received widespread support at the meeting, he added. 

The UN peacekeeping forces have permanent personnel of about 90,000 troops tasked with addressing political and military crises at countries with ongoing armed conflicts or war risks. They just engage in peacekeeping, humanitarian aid provision and monitoring of ceasefires at conflicted areas. 

On the fringe of the London event, the Vietnamese delegation met with officials of other countries, such as the Japanese deputy defence minister and the defence ministers of Indonesia, Cambodia and China, Vinh noted. 

Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan spoke highly of the recent China visit by his Vietnamese counterpart Ngo Xuan Lich. He said the two sides should accelerate discussions to soon realise aspects of defence cooperation as agreed by the two ministers.

VNA