President Tran Dai Quang has granted the media an interview on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Vietnam’s accession to the United Nations (UN) (September 20, 1977-2017). The following is the content of the interview:

Q: 2017 marks 40 years of Vietnam’s UN membership. How do you evaluate the development of Vietnam-UN relations over the past years?

A: Vietnam becoming an official member of the UN on September 20, 1977 marked the recognition of the world’s largest global organisation, and the international community, towards a peaceful, unified, independent, free and democratic Vietnam. This was a significant event for our country. 

Over the past four decades, Vietnam and the UN have always strived to nurture and build an increasingly better cooperative relationship, boasting positive results and huge potential for development.

The State and people of Vietnam always respect the support and co-operation of the UN in the cause of national construction and development, especially the organisation’s precious and practical support in terms of finance, technology and experience for the country during the tough years following the war, as well as the period in which the country was under siege and sanctions.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, in addition to receiving aid from socialist countries, the UN assistance accounted for 60% of the total aid offered to Vietnam. 

During the country’s reform process as well as its acceleration of industrialisation, modernisation and international integration, the UN continues to actively support Vietnam, providing hundreds of millions of US dollars annually. 

This is one of the most important resources for Vietnam to successfully realise the socio-economic development goals and contribute to making Vietnam one of the countries that fulfills the UN’s Millennium Development Goals.

As an active, responsible member of the international community, Vietnam has always considered cooperation with the UN as one of the top priorities in its foreign policy. 

Since its earliest days of joining the UN, Vietnam has been proactively and actively participating in many operational areas of the organisation. International friends have acknowledged and highly appreciated Vietnam’s leading role in promoting the struggle for national independence, sovereignty and self-determination, fighting the arms race and supporting the comprehensive and radical disarmament, in addition to our active contribution to the process of formulating and implementing UN treaties and conventions and building a fair, transparent and effective global multilateral institution, meeting the common aspirations of mankind.

Highlighting the fundamental principles of international laws and the UN Charter in tackling international conflicts and disputes through peaceful means, Vietnam always attaches great importance to the UN’s central role in maintaining international peace and security.

Vietnam also takes the lead in implementing the UN’s “Delivering as One (DaO)” initiative, whilst proposing many initiatives in regards to Vietnam’s priority areas which are also in the common interest of the community. 

In addition, Vietnam has been striving to successfully implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on climate change, the UN initiative on El Nino and La Nina response and the UN peacekeeping operations.

With great efforts and contributions made to the activities and development of the UN, Vietnam has been trusted and highly appreciated by the international community, which is most clearly manifested through the country being elected to many bodies of the UN, receiving a high number of votes, especially the UN Security Council (2008-2009 term), the UN Economic and Social Council (1998-2000 and 2016-2018 tenures), the UN Human Rights Council (2014-2016 term), the UNESCO Executive Council (2015-2019 tenure) and the International Law Commission (2017-2021 term).

Q: What are the directions for Vietnam-UN cooperation in the time ahead?

A: On the basis of the fine bilateral relationship over the past 40 years, we are very optimistic about the future of Vietnam-UN relations. 

Thoroughly comprehending and implementing the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress, “Actively participate and promote the role at multilateral mechanisms, especially ASEAN and the UN”, Vietnam will strengthen ties with the UN in an extensive, effective and substantive fashion, thus contributing actively to maintaining peace, stability and sustainable development in the region and around the world.

As a responsible and active member in the UN’s activities, Vietnam will stand side by side with the member countries in upholding the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international laws, promoting fair and equal international relationships, friendship and cooperation between nations and ensuring the legitimate interests of all countries, especially developing nations. 

Vietnam will also enhance its participation in the UN peacekeeping operations at a higher level; exert efforts to successfully implement the 2030 Agenda, Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change; and support the reform efforts of the UN, towards improving efficiency, transparency and democratisation in all activities.

Vietnam will focus on fulfilling its membership role in the UN’s mechanisms and taking the lead in the priority areas by deploying many specific initiatives. 

Specifically, the country will actively lobby for its bid for a non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term. 

If elected to this position, Vietnam will surely make active and substantial contributions to the UN’s efforts in preserving international peace and security, thereby enhancing the country’s status and prestige and contributing to the cause of peace, national independence, democracy and social progress in the world.

Vietnam and the UN will focus on implementing the Joint Strategic Plan for the period of 2017-2021 signed between the two sides in July. 

With four priority areas, including investing in people, ensuring adaptation to climate change and sustainable environmental development, promoting prosperity and partnership, and facilitating justice, peace and comprehensive governance, this Plan will support Vietnam in implementing the 2011-2020 Strategy for Sustainable Development, the Socio-economic Development Plan for the 2016-2020 period and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. 

This is an important premise for the deployment of specific cooperation activities between Vietnam and the UN in the coming years.

Thank you very much!

Nhan Dan