Lacroix, who visited Vietnam last month, made the praise while meeting Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN) on January 16 to seek measures to further promote cooperation between Vietnam and the UN.

The UN Deputy Secretary-General said that he witnessed and was impressed by the Vietnamese Engineering Unit’s successfully completion of difficult tasks assigned at the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

He said that the UN is willing to support Vietnam during the process of preparing forces, training and carrying out pre-feasibility assessment as well as building necessary capacity that Vietnam needs.

Ambassador Giang thanked the UN for assisting Vietnam’s efforts in participating UN peacekeeping.

He said that the two sides should coordinate closely in defining areas for cooperation, which are of the UN’s demands and Vietnam’s experience and capacity, thus further bolster the Vietnam-UN partnership.

Ambassador Giang thanked the UN for assisting Vietnam’s efforts in participating UN peacekeeping.

He underlined that promoting cooperation with the UN, including the increase of its involvement in peacekeeping activities, is one of the priorities in Vietnam’s external relations. Vietnam will continue to support targets and programmes of the UN within its capacity, including its commitments in increasing the number of women peacekeepers joining peacekeeping operations.

On the occasion, Ambassador Giang proposed that Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix and UN agencies continue to give Vietnam support in building capacity, especially for military and police forces joining peacekeeping operations, as well as other practical assistance, thus enabling Vietnam to better meet requirements and demands of the UN in carrying out UN peacekeeping operations.

Contributions to the international community

Since Vietnam sent the first personnel to the UN peacekeeping mission in June 2014, its participation in the UN mission has been highly appreciated by the United Nations and international partners, raising the prestige and position of Vietnam and the Vietnam People's Army in the international arena.

Vietnam has sent 513 military officers and soldiers to 3 UN peacekeeping missions in South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Abyei and the UN headquarters. They included 4 turns of Level-2 Field Hospital, 1 engineering team, and 76 officers.

In May 2022, Vietnam sent the first engineering team with 184 professional officers and soldiers and nearly 2,000 tons of equipment to the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

The Vietnamese officers participating in UN peacekeeping activities have demonstrated professionalism, discipline, international solidarity spirit, and especially ability to quickly adapt to the local harsh working environment. They have successfully completed their tasks and have been acknowledged by the UN and the international community.

Deputy Director of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, Colonel Nguyen Ba Hung, said:  “The UN praises Vietnamese engineering team’s quick engagement in the mission as soon as they arrived. Their professional performance has been highly appreciated by the UN engineering section. The Vietnamese officers and soldiers also helped local people in a low-lying area repair flooded schools and roads.”

Over the past 8 years, Vietnam sent 74 female soldiers to the UN missions, while other countries’ missions don’t have female sappers.

Vietnam – a responsible member of the international community

Vietnam’s participation in UN peacekeeping activities affirms that it is a responsible member of the United Nations and the international community. Vietnam's efforts to fulfill its responsibilities in UN peacekeeping activities have contributed to addressing security issues, protecting peace and stability in the world, enhanced the country’s cooperation with other countries, raised its international prestige, and created a favorable international environment for national construction and defense.

Deputy Director of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, Colonel Nguyen Ba Hung said: “Participating in the UN peacekeeping missions, we have gained more experience and promoted the image of Uncle Ho’s soldiers to international friends. The position of Vietnam and the Vietnam People's Army has also improved internationally.”

Participation in the UN peacekeeping activities is a tool for Vietnam to implement its national defense strategy of early preparation and using peaceful means. It also demonstrates Vietnam’s stance of aligning national peace and stability with the settlement of regional and global security issues.