State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and delegates attending the UNSC's High-level Open Debate (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – State President Nguyen Xuan
Phuc on April 19 chaired the High-level Open Debate of the United Nations Security
Council on "Cooperation between the UN and regional organizations in
enhancing confidence-building and dialogue in conflict prevention and
resolution".
The following is the full text of his statement at the event.
"Ladies
and gentlemen,
Trust,
confidence and dialogue lay the solid foundation for
international relations. Rising from the ashes and sorrows of World War II, the UN has become the very symbol of our deep conviction and mutual trust in multilateralism
and multi- tiered international cooperation.
Guided by such faith, many regional organizations were established and have
since thrived. Our briefers today, representing organizations from various
regions, will give us an overall picture of their active contributions to
conflict prevention and resolution, and facilitation of dialogue, peace and
reconciliation processes.
As an active ASEAN member, having just fulfilled its role as the 2020 ASEAN
Chair, Vietnam takes great pride in ASEAN’s success in building a region of peace,
cooperation, trust and dialogue, and a cohesive and responsive ASEAN Community,
striving toward an open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based regional
architecture.
ASEAN has established a partnership with the UN and created several mechanisms
and forums for political and security dialogues with other countries, including
the five Permanent Members of the Security Council. In January 2020, Vietnam
chaired the Council’s open debate on Cooperation between the UN and ASEAN in
maintaining international peace and security.
Setting confidence-building and dialogue as priorities, ASEAN has been working
with China to negotiate the establishment of the Code of Conduct in the South
China Sea (COC), with a view to maintaining peace, stability, maritime security
and safety in the South China Sea.
ASEAN is also playing a central role in seeking adequate solution to help stabilize
the situation in Myanmar through dialogue and reconciliation.
Ladies and gentlemen,
While peace, cooperation and development continue as the prevailing trend and fervent
aspirations of all countries and peoples, the world that we live in today is
riddled with challenges. In the past five years, conflicts have taken away half
a million lives across the globe. In 2020 alone, the world recorded 20 million
refugees, over 50 million people displaced due to conflicts, and around 170 million
in need of humanitarian assistance. These are the people who are left behind,
and call upon our Council to take action.
Against major challenges, such as COVID-19, natural disasters, severe climate
change, border and territorial disputes and conflicts, frictions, and
geo-strategic competition, increased international unity is more crucial than
ever.
Yet, the paradox at present lies in our waning trust in one another and in
multilateral institutions. The strengthening of unity is of great necessity,
starting with the cooperation between the UN and the UNSC with regional
organizations in our joint efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts through dialogue
and confidence-building.
In this important debate, I would like to underscore three proposals:
First, the interactions and
complementarities between the UN and regional organizations are inherent. They offer a “two-way linkage” to share
knowledge and coordinate joint endeavours. The UN should take the lead in
increasing cooperation activities and exchanges of experience and best practices in confidence-building and dialogue to prevent conflicts. On the other hand, regional organizations, with
their unique strengths in practical experience, resources and diverse demands, should bolster cooperation with the UN, engage in dialogues
and share experience at various forums to enhance capacity
in preventing and resolving conflicts.
Second, we should further promote the role of multilateralism and uphold the UN Charter
and international law, for this is the most concrete and solid foundation to build trust and promote dialogues.
Moreover, to early conflict prevention requires inclusive and comprehensive solutions to address the
root causes of conflicts, such as poverty, hunger, inequality and violence. The
international community should strive to fulfill the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development, and other global security and development
strategies and initiatives led by the UN, paying greater attention and giving adequate assistance to developing countries who face serious resources’
constraints.
On their
part, regional organizations need to have
comprehensive agendas, and integrate the UN’s development frameworks and
initiatives into their national and regional development plans. They should
also strive to narrow political, economic and cultural gaps amongst themselves. In South East Asia, ASEAN
is making every effort to fulfill the goal of building an ASEAN Community
united in politics, diverse in culture, connected in economy, and with
increased cooperation with external partners. As an active ASEAN member, Vietnam
has effectively placed COVID-19 under control, enjoyed a high economic growth
rate, and actively engaged in international integration.
Third, we need to continue
enhancing cooperation between the UNSC and regional organizations through dialogue and co-operation frameworks,
and early warning mechanisms for volatilities.
The UNSC needs to continue acknowledging and respecting the
perspectives, role and contributions of regional organizations. We also need to
mainstream conflict prevention and resolution strategies via
dialogue and confidence-building in UN Missions, and create
favorable conditions for regional organizations to uphold their central role.
In response, regional organizations should further strengthen their proactive and leading role in preventing and
resolving conflicts in accordance with international law and
the UN Charter. This can only be achieved when each and every member state has strategic trust in each other and
share a common political resolve.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Vietnam is honoured to assume the Presidency of the Security Council for the second time. With the
aspiration to become a peaceful and prosperous nation, a reliable partner, and
a responsible member of the international community, Vietnam remains steadfast
in our foreign policy of independence, sovereignty, diversification and multilateralization
of relations, promoting international integration and actively contributing to
the efforts of the UN and the UNSC.
Faithful to
our motto - “Partnership for sustainable
peace”, Vietnam will spare no effort to
strengthen the cooperation between the UN and regional organizations, including
ASEAN, and elevate such ties, for peace, security and development around the
world.
Thank you"./.
VNA