Small countries must be respected: Vietnam PM

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said voices of small and medium-sized countries, including Vietnam,must be respected and listened to.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the ceremony on August 28. Photo: VGP

Those countries have struggled to gain independence and contribute significantly to the international community, Mr. Phuc said at a ceremony celebrating the 75th anniversary of Vietnam’s Independence Day, attended by Vietnamese high-ranking officials, foreign ambassadors, and representatives of foreign organizations.

Peace, stability, cooperation, and development become long-lasting aspiration of all countries and people around the world and each country needs to respect rule of law, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and legitimate interests of other countries, PM Phuc stressed.

Globalization remains the trend guiding the development of the world despite hardship. The Vietnamese PM called on countries to join hands to make it sustainable, safe, and humane in the future.

“We need to work together to reform multilateral institutions towards greater efficiency, representation, and adaptation”. “In particular, the United Nations is at the center, organizations such as ASEAN are an integral part, to build a fair and sustainable international order. Vietnam has always been active in this process,” Mr. Phuc said.

Regarding the global health crisis, Mr. Phuc highlighted the necessity of the tightened cooperation in fighting against Covid-19 by detailed efforts in production of vaccines and in response to other kinds of infectious diseases.

Vietnam’s 75-year journey

Ambassador of Palestine to Vietnam Saadi Salama, dean of diplomatic corps in Vietnam. Photo: Baoquocte

Vietnam, with a journey of 75 years since Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (the Socialist Republic of Vietnam today), Vietnam is heading towards “rich people, strong nation, equitable, democratic and civilized society.”

Vietnam has gained achievements in different fields, ranging from rapid economic growth, improved living standards, stable socio-politics, secured security and defense, complete institution, broader external affairs, and further international cooperation.

The achievements have proved Vietnam’s strong will and dependable partnership which have been formed by the international support.

On August 28, UN Secretary General António Guterres hailed Vietnam for being always a strong partner since its admission to the UN in 1977.

The Vietnamese army has been joining the UN's peacekeeping missions and Vietnam’s leading role in fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals lays a solid foundation for the country to carry out the Sustainable Development Program 2020, Mr. Guterres said.

Vision and aspiration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will become more important than ever when the world recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to him, Vietnam has been making important contributions to supporting sustainable peace in its capacity as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

The 75th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day is concurrent with the time when the country assumes the roles as ASEAN Chair and UNSC non-permanent member, reflecting its strong presence on the international arena, he added.

Palestinian Ambassador to Vietnam Saadi Salama, head of the diplomatic corps, highly evaluated Vietnam's contributions in its capacity as Chair of ASEAN in 2020 and non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.

The ambassador also affirmed the willingness and determination to further develop friendship and multifaceted coordination between Vietnam and countries and organisations for a world of peace, equality, prosperity, cooperation and development.