United Nations proud to be Vietnam’s partner: Secretary-General Guterres

“Xin chao,” Guterres said, using the popular Vietnamese greeting to open his remarks at a ceremony organized to commemorate the 45th Anniversary of Vietnam’s Membership in the United Nations.

“Today, we recognize more than a strong partnership – we celebrate a remarkable journey. A story of transformation and hope written by the Vietnamese people,” Guterres said.

From a country ravaged by war and on the brink of famine, receiving food aid from UN just decades ago, Vietnam has come a country sending peacekeepers to aid people in some of the most desperate parts of the world, he said.

Vietnam was not only an important contributor to UN peacekeeping but also provided double the global average of women peacekeepers to the effort, Guterres noted.

The country has been elected to the Security Council twice and adopted the first-ever Presidential Statement on upholding the UN Charter. Last week, it was elected to the Human Rights Council.

“Vietnam has come a long way. And the journey continues. You once again have the opportunity to be a powerhouse for change,” he said, adding that UN was proud to be the nation’s partner every step of the way.

“Onward, we advance together – as we just heard in the Vietnamese national anthem.”

President Phuc said in his remarks that being part of UN for the last 45 years marked a new chapter in Vietnam’s history.

He said the journey has seen Vietnam revive from war, adopt renovations and advance international integration “to become a dynamic middle income economy with high human development indicators.”

Vietnam is now a member of many international organizations, including the World Trade Organization. It is part of 17 free trade agreements and is a major part of the global supply chain, the President said.

“Vietnam is always a friend, a trusted and responsible partner of the international community,” he stressed.

Guterres arrived in Hanoi Friday on a two-day (Oct. 21-22) visit to Vietnam as the country successfully completed its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term and has just been elected as member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term.

Vietnam became the 149^th member of the U.N. on Sep. 20, 1977 and has always been a reliable, active partner since, making many important contributions to the organization’s missions, the President said.

Cooperation between Vietnam and the U.N. is constantly being consolidated and strengthened, with Vietnam participating more actively and responsibly in all key areas of the U.N., contributing to enhancing the country’s position and prestige in the international arena, he added.

Vietnam is one of 14 countries elected by the General Assembly to be a member of the U.N. Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term in a vote held Oct. 11. It had earlier been elected to the council in 2013 for the 2014-2016 term.