Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy has expressed his expectation that the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) will provide additional assistance to regional states in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and to efficiently tackle terrorism.

Ambassador Quy, head of the Vietnamese Mission to the UN, made the remarks during a July 6 video conference held by the UN Security Council in order to discuss the UNRCCA’s operation.

The Vietnamese Ambassador offered high praise for the role played by the UNRCCA and Natalia Gherman, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Asia and the UNRCCA’s Head, in promoting preventive diplomacy throughout Central Asia whilst offering security, social, and economic progress regionally.

Moreover, the diplomat voiced his hope that the UNRCCA will continue its support of countries in Central Asia, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, to strengthen transboundary water management, increase regional co-operation, and empower members of the youth and women’s groups.

Gherman briefed participants on details of the UNRCCA’s activities since the last meeting held in January, with a particular focus placed on providing help for regional states to slow the spread of the COVID-19. Other activities include promoting regional social-economic growth, in addition to dealing with non-conventional security challenges such as terrorism and extremism, along with transnational crimes and climate change.

Furthermore, the UNRCCA has also given help to these five countries in order to manage transboundary water issues and intensify participation among members of the youth and women in preventive diplomacy, the special representative said.