Since joining the UN in 1977, Vietnam has contributed to and benefited from the organization’s activities with the international body allowing Vietnam’s multilateral diplomacy to shine.

Vietnam joins the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (Photo:nhandan.com.vn) 

At the establishment of the independent Vietnamese State, President Ho Chi Minh said “complete and eternal national freedom and independence” are closely tied to world peace. President Ho Chi Minh lobbied for Vietnam’s recognition by the UN for UN membership.

Since it joined the UN in 1977, Vietnam has affirmed its independence, unity, and fundamental rights in the international arena and has promoted its role and prestige within global multilateral cooperation mechanisms.

From participating to shaping

The UN, the world’s largest multilateral organization, was founded 75 years ago to prevent conflicts and wars, maintain peace, and build a world of development, wealth, and prosperity. 

In the 43 years since joining the UN, Vietnam has made great strides in international integration and become a responsible member of the international community. Promoting multilateral diplomacy, Vietnam has attained major milestones with the normailization of diplomatic ties with the US, admission to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and involvement in the Asia Pacific Economic Forum. 

The country also signed a Framework Agreement on Economics with the EU, became a member of the World Trade Organization and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the 2008-2009 tenure, and participated in UN peacekeeping missions. 

It successfully hosted the US-DPRK Summit, assumed the role as the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020 and was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure with these posts helping elevate the country's status in the international arena. 

Ngo Quang Xuan, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UN from 1993 to 1999, said "We have shown that Vietnam is a responsible member of the UN and a strong, reliable partner. Now we are confident enough to participate in any leadership mechanism of the UN. Multilateral diplomacy and Vietnam’s position in the UN have changed dramatically."

Vietnam participates in UN activities (Photo: VNA) 

The UN has helped Vietnam strengthen its social security, mobilize resources for national renewal, reform its socio-economic development strategies, and accelerate international integration.

Ambassador Ngo Quang Xuan described the Vietnam-UN relationship as a model for international cooperation, saying that "The UN has helped Vietnam obtain needed for national renewal and international integration through which Vietnam’s international status has risen. Bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and other countries has fluctuated but Vietnam’s relation with the UN has grown steadily."

New status, new focus

The Vietnam-UN relationship is focused on attaining sustainable growth, developing high quality services and social protection, and improving public governance to help Vietnam realize its development strategies. During the last 43 years, cooperation between Vietnam and the UN has progressed in all spheres and at all levels, which has contributed to raising Vietnam’s status internationally.

Vietnam continues to prove itself capable and dynamic in boosting multilateral and international cooperation, taking on heavier tasks, contributing more initiatives and ideas, and participating more in shaping new structures and mechanisms.

Vietnam will continue contributing to the UN, protecting fundamental principles of the UN Charter concerning sovereignty, non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, and not using or threatening to use force; and protecting the interests of developing countries like Vietnam.