Vietnam calls for strengthening the vitality of multilateralism

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh speaks at the high-level discussion of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly. Photo: Hoai Thanh/VNA

According to a VNA correspondent in New York, on September 28, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Head of the Vietnamese delegation, delivered an important speech at the High-level General Debate of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly and attended the Informal ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (IAMM) and related ASEAN activities.

On the same day, the Head of the Vietnamese delegation also had meetings with the Secretary-General and President of the United Nations General Assembly.

Speaking before leaders and representatives of 193 United Nations member states, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh emphasized the importance of multilateralism and the great achievements that multilateral institutions, especially the United Nations, have made over the past three-quarters of a century.

For Vietnam, the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that multilateral diplomacy has a special position in Vietnam's foreign policy as well as in the overall process of innovation, development and international integration.

Vietnam has also increasingly demonstrated its role as a proactive, active and responsible member in multilateral processes, with contributions in many areas of the United Nations' activities, from peacekeeping to sustainable development, and recently Vietnam has been elected by countries as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term.

However, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said that multilateralism is facing severe challenges due to the impact of power politics, populism, declining political commitment and lack of resources. Therefore, reinvigorating multilateralism is an urgent requirement for the international community.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister made many specific and practical proposals that received attention from many countries.

Affirming that “international law is the foundation of equal and fair relations between nations,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Pham Binh Minh said that the international community needs to speak out against unilateral, imposing actions that violate international law, while promoting the settlement of disputes by peaceful means.

Reiterating concerns over recent complicated developments in the East Sea, including activities that violate Vietnam's sovereignty and jurisdiction in its maritime zones as defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh stressed that relevant countries need to exercise restraint, avoid unilateral actions that complicate the situation, and resolve disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh speaks at the high-level discussion of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly. Photo: Hoai Thanh/VNA

As a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021 and ASEAN Chair in 2020, Vietnam will prioritize promoting cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, especially in conflict prevention and promoting sustainable peace.

Vietnam also emphasized that multilateral efforts need to put people at the center; in which peace and stability are prerequisites for sustainable development; and can only be ensured if people are protected and their basic living conditions are guaranteed.

Faced with new challenges, multilateral institutions need to be reformed to increase efficiency, transparency and democracy, and countries need to increase political commitment and resources for multilateral institutions.

On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh attended the Informal ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (IAMM) and meetings between ASEAN Foreign Ministers with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Pacific Alliance (PA), and the Secretary-General and President of the United Nations General Assembly.

At the IAMM Conference, countries discussed preparations for the 35th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok (Thailand) in early November 2019. Ministers also updated on the international and regional situation and issues of mutual concern.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh informed the countries about Vietnam's preparations for taking over the role of ASEAN Chair 2020. At the same time, the head of the Vietnamese delegation also raised Vietnam's concerns about the situation in the East Sea since the 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (August 2019 in Bangkok), thereby affirming Vietnam's principled stance on this issue.

During the ASEAN-GCC meeting, the countries expressed their delight at the progress in cooperation between the two sides and considered a number of proposals to enhance cooperation between ASEAN and the Gulf countries.

With PA, the countries affirmed that, as leading multilateral organizations in the Pacific region, ASEAN and PA have great potential to develop relations. The countries agreed to adopt the ASEAN-PA cooperation plan for the period 2020-2025.

Meeting with ASEAN Foreign Ministers, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed ASEAN's progress in community building, affirming that UN agencies are always ready to coordinate and support ASEAN in maintaining its central role for peace and stability in the region and the world.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the UN Secretary-General called on parties to peacefully resolve disputes in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS, and to refrain from actions that increase tensions.

Mr. Antonio Guterres also emphasized ASEAN's role in approaching and solving regional issues and striving to successfully implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On the same day, at a meeting with President of the United Nations General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to cooperation with the United Nations and will actively contribute to the central role of the United Nations in the multilateral system, supporting the President of the General Assembly to fulfill his duties.

With UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed Vietnam's commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change; shared Vietnam's major orientations during its two years of participation in the Security Council, as well as its ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020, thereby aiming to strengthen relations between the United Nations and regional organizations.

Partners congratulated Vietnam on its election to the Security Council with a very high number of votes, supporting Vietnam's orientation and approach.

Secretary-General Guterres hopes that Vietnam will strongly promote its role in responding to climate change and protecting the environment.

South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor highly appreciated the steady development of the Vietnam-South Africa bilateral relationship in recent times, considering Vietnam's upcoming tenure as UN Security Council member and ASEAN Chair as an opportunity to create more momentum for cooperation between the two countries.

Regarding the situation in the East Sea, the partners emphasized the need to respect international law and dialogue to resolve disputes and differences.

The 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly opened on September 17 at the United Nations headquarters in New York, USA; of which, the high-level General Debate was held from September 24 to 29, with the participation of more than 150 heads of state, prime ministers or ministers./.