VGP – This week, the United Nations General Assembly will cast votes to elect five non-permanent members of the Security Council for 2020-2021 tenure and Viet Nam is among candidates.

Indeed, this is one of the important week for Viet Nam’s diplomacy as the Southeast Asian country will have another opportunity to contribute to global efforts in preserving the world’s peace and security if it is selected to the Security Council.

It is unprecedented that Viet Nam was nominated as the Asia-Pacific’s only candidate about 13 months (May 25, 2018) ahead of the official election, said Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, head of Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the United Nations for 2014-2018 period.

Facts and figures show how Viet Nam has changed since it was first elected to the UNSC in 2007 for the tenure 2008-2009.

The nomination reflects support and trust from regional countries for Viet Nam, serving as initial important basis for the country to mobilize support from other UN members in other regions, Nga said.

Current UNSC non-permanent members

(with end year of term):

- Belgium (2020),

- Ivory Coast (2019),

- Dominican Republic (2020),

- Equatorial Guinea (2019),

- Germany (2020),

- Indonesia (2020),

- Kuwait (2019),

- Peru (2019),

- Poland (2019),

- South Africa (2020). 

She is optimistic about the second campaign to win a non-permanent seat on the Security Council as the country’s position and prestige have been heightened.

Viet Nam is a good example loved and admired by foreign friends for its courage to gain national independence, for development and poverty reduction achievements as well as for peace-loving tradition.

The country has consistently pursued the foreign policy of peace, independence, self-reliance, multi-lateralization and diversification of external relations, and active international integration.

Viet Nam has made positive contributions to various international organizations to which it is a member, like ASEAN, APEC, ASEM, the United Nations, which have been widely recognized by countries, especially major powers.

Nga said Viet Nam has also been widely seen as an active and responsible member of the United Nations and the member countries have expressed belief in Viet Nam’s capacity and role in global security issues.

Viet Nam officially became member of the United Nations on September 20, 1977 and has considered the ties with the organization as a top priority in its foreign policy.

The country was first elected as non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the tenure 2008-2009.