Vietnam was a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council 10 years ago and is the only Asian candidate for the position this time.

Challenges in the changing world

Since joining the UN in 1977, Vietnam has proved to be an active and responsible member of the largest global organization. It has contributed to UN activities and become part of the vanguards in promoting peace, progress, cooperation and development around the world. As a non-permanent member of the UN in the 2008-2009 tenure Vietnam joined efforts to settle conflicts in some areas, strengthened the UN peacekeeping mission, and put forth initiatives to enhance the role of women in maintaining peace and security. Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung said Vietnam needs to strengthen its capability in the face of current challenges: “The world situation is changing dramatically. Though peace and development cooperation are a shared goal, regional problems are complicated. To support the UN Security Council’s agenda, Vietnam needs to understand these problems and improve its capacity to deal with them.”

A major challenge for non-permanent members of the UN Security Council is dealing with the differences between permanent members in approaching conflicts. This requires member countries to work out practical proposals to address regional and global problems that balance the interests of all parties.

Desire to contribute to world peace

Vietnam has consulted with the international community on current issues before the UN Security Council and has identified opportunities and challenges facing the Council’s non-permanent members. Vietnam has also learned from the experience from other countries involved in peacekeeping efforts and has proposed initiatives on mutual support between international organizations, nations, the UN and ASEAN, and the EU and ASEAN. Germany’s Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Foundation’s representative in Vietnam Peter Girke said he hopes Vietnam will fulfill its declared mission of ensuring security and peace around the world if it is elected to this position: “Vietnam has made a lot of progress with regard to regional and international integration that we’ve just mentioned; ASEAN, APEC… And also Vietnam has adopted market institution and integrated within the international economic system. Now it has for sure contributed to respect and representative of Vietnam within the international community and also impressive economic performance after the last decade. The region Southeast Asia is prone to conflict with regard to security and also economic issue. Many other stakeholders have high expectation from Vietnam’s UNSC membership.”

The UN Security Council is one of 6 major agencies defined in the UN Charter. Its main job is to maintain international peace and security. Vietnam’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the Council for the second time shows its determination to participate in UN activities and its responsibility for world peace and sustainable development.