The United Nations (UN) highly valued Vietnam’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations, and it is ready to support Vietnam in preparing its forces for next UN peacekeeping missions, said UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Herve Ladsous, in talks with Vietnamese high-ranking officials during his visit to Vietnam from June 9th to 10th.

Defence Minister, General Phung Quang Thanh at the reception with Mr Herve Ladsous, UN Under-Secretary-General for peacekeeping operations (Photo: qdnd.vn)

On the morning of June 10th, Vietnamese Defense Minister, General Phung Quang Thanh received UN Under-Secretary-General Herve Ladsous at the Defense Ministry’s Headquarters, in Hanoi.

At the meeting, the Vietnamese Defense Minister highly valued the visit of Under-Secretary-General Herve Ladsous in particular and the visits of other UN high-ranking officials to Vietnam in general, saying that such visits would promote relations and cooperation between Vietnam and the UN.

The host also briefed the guest on Vietnam’s effort and preparation for next UN peacekeeping operations and asked the UN to continue supporting Vietnam, sharing information and experiences in training peacekeeping forces.

The Vietnamese Defense Minister said: “Vietnam consistently pursues its external policy of being a responsible member of the international community. In so doing, Vietnam will actively participate in UN peacekeeping missions in an effort to contribute more to international peace, stability and security. Particularly, Vietnam is building its Peacekeeping Center, a regional-level training hub, and training and preparing a company-level unit of sapper and a level-2 field hospital for next UN peacekeeping operations. In this process, we try to learn experiences in training peacekeeping forces and other related matters from high-profile countries. During my recent visit to India, I asked the Indian Defense Minister to share experience with us and I also wish to receive more support from the UN.”

For his part, the UN official highly appreciated Vietnam’s participation in UN peacekeeping missions and its military officers working as UN peacekeepers in South Sudan and Central Africa. He held that the training and preparing of peacekeeping forces for UN peacekeeping operations is a process, which needs time and endeavor. But Vietnam is on the right track, he confirmed. He also thanked the Vietnamese Defense Minister and other military high-ranking officers for the warm welcome, esteemed reception and open, effective talks.

The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in the peacekeeping area in the future.

Earlier on the morning of June 10th, the UN official had a meeting with leaders of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry. The two sides discussed measures to promote relations and cooperation between Vietnam and the UN.

On the evening of June 9th, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Defense Minister, Head of the Defense Ministry's Steering Board for Peacekeeping welcomed and had talks with the UN official. After the reception, Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army hosted a banquet to the UN official and his entourage at Lotte Hotel in Hanoi.

On the schedule, the UN official is to visit the Vietnam Peacekeeping Center and then to pay a courtesy call to Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung before returning to the UN Headquarters, concluding his visit to Vietnam.

Source: qdnd.vn