45 years of Vietnam joining the United Nations: A journey of receiving and giving

45 years ago, on September 21, 1977, The New York Times published the news "Vietnam joins the United Nations as the 32nd General Assembly opens" in the first section on page 2.

The news article wrote: “Rough applause resounded throughout the auditorium, and speeches were delivered one after another. All of this reflected the sentiments of the majority of members for Vietnam.”

This was a particularly important milestone for Vietnam. At that time, Vietnam had just liberated the country for 2 years. Not only was it facing many economic and technical difficulties, but Vietnam was also under embargoes from many countries.

Joining the United Nations not only helps Vietnam receive more support in rebuilding the country but is also a recognition of a unified and independent nation.

On September 20, 1977, the Vietnamese flag-raising ceremony was officially held at the United Nations headquarters, marking Vietnam's becoming the 149th member of the largest organization on the planet. In the photo: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Duy Trinh (second from right) attends the Vietnamese flag-raising ceremony at the United Nations headquarters. Photo: Document

After more than four decades of dedication and contribution to the common work of the United Nations, this is the time for Vietnam to "raise two proud voices" - former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Quang Vinh commented.

Aid from the United Nations was once one of Vietnam's most important resources.

Late 1970s and early 1980sIn addition to receiving aid from socialist countries, United Nations aid accounts for 60% of total aid to Vietnam.

In the process of national renewal as well as promoting industrialization, modernization and international integration, the United Nations continues to actively support Vietnam, providing hundreds of millions of USD annually.

This is one of the most important resources for Vietnam to successfully achieve its socio-economic development goals.

From the 1980s to the mid-1990s, Vietnam's activities at the United Nations prioritize opposing sanctions.

Since the middle of this period, Vietnam has resolutely implemented a foreign policy of bilateralism, diversification, independence and self-reliance, and gradually integrated into the region and the world.

Foreign Minister Nguyen Duy Trinh speaks at the 32nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 20, 1977. The session passed a resolution recognizing Vietnam as a member of the United Nations. Photo: VNA

During the period 1997-2000, UN assistance to Vietnam focuses on poverty reduction efforts, social policy implementation, environmental and natural resource management, aid coordination, state management and resource mobilization.

From 2001-2005, the United Nations has shifted technical assistance to Vietnam to reform economic institutions and policies, state-owned enterprises, public administration, laws, public investment plans and the banking system. This support has also expanded to many other areas such as HIV/AIDS and other fatal diseases prevention, promoting grassroots democracy and gender equality.

Cooperation with the United Nations has contributed to creating favorable conditions for improving technological levels and promoting scientific and technological progress in Vietnam, restoring and building new production facilities, and enhancing development capacity.

Stepping up to a new position: Vietnam accompanies and contributes effectively

From September 13, 2022, Vietnam will become one of the Vice Presidents of the 77th United Nations General Assembly representing the Asia-Pacific region and assume this position for 1 year.

The United Nations General Assembly is the highest representative body of the United Nations with the participation of 193 member states. Therefore, this is the place to express the priorities and common concerns of the international community. The General Assembly is also the "brain" body of the United Nations to make important policies to affirm and implement the central role of the United Nations in global governance, in handling the common challenges that the international community is facing today.

“Vietnam becoming one of the Vice Presidents of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly is very meaningful, especially when this year we celebrate the 45th anniversary of Vietnam becoming a member of the United Nations,” Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh commented on the International Newspaper.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the COP26 Conference in November 2021.

Previously, Vietnam was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (term 2020-2021) with a record high number of votes (192/193 votes in favor).

In this position, Vietnam has promoted its role, proactively and actively participated in contributing to the common work of the Security Council in the spirit of independence, self-reliance, positivity, responsibility and balance; promoted bilateral relations with member countries of the Security Council and promoted the "dual role" of a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2020-2021 term and ASEAN Chair in 2020.

In 2009, Vietnam successfully completed its mission as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-2009 term. This was the first time Vietnam participated in the United Nations' most important agency on international peace and security in the context of the Security Council having to handle a huge amount of work.

This is a period of many complex security issues, in addition to new global security challenges and the negative impact of the most severe global economic and financial crisis in modern world history.

Vietnam has sent 243 military officers in single assignments to the United Nations Peacekeeping Missions in South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Department of Peacekeeping at the United Nations Headquarters; deployed three rounds of the second field hospital to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan; and is one of the countries with the highest proportion of women participating among the sending countries (12%).

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the dispatch ceremony of Vietnam's first engineering corps to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations in April 2022.

When the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, Vietnam proposed a resolution to make December 27 the International Day for Epidemic Preparedness and Control, which was approved by the United Nations General Assembly with the consent of 112 countries. Vietnam also contributed 50,000 USD to the WHO Covid-19 Response Fund and 500,000 USD to the COVAX Facility.

For the first time, Vietnam has successfully received and treated a patient who is a United Nations staff member infected with Covid-19 under the MEDEVAC Mechanism (United Nations Global Medical Evacuation Task Force) and will move towards establishing a MEDEVAC Center in Vietnam after negotiating and agreeing on specific contents with the United Nations.

Vietnam is considered by the United Nations and the international community as a successful example in implementing the Millennium Development Goals and a country determined and serious in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

During a phone call with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres affirmed that Vietnam is an important factor contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world./.