(VOVworld) - In two years, Vietnam has sent 12 officers to the UN’s peace-keeping missions, including three to South Sudan and two to the Central African Republic. Vietnam has proven its pro-active international integration through its commitments and actions, helping to enhance Vietnam’s position on the international arena.

The conference to review two years of Vietnam’s engagement in UN peace-keeping activities.

Vietnamese officers participating in the UN’s peace keeping forces are equipped with firm political will, pro-activeness, and high determination to accomplish assigned tasks.

Image of Vietnam among international friends

Senior Lt. Col. Mac Duc Trong is one of Vietnam’s first two officers assigned to the UN peace-keeping mission in South Sudan in June 2014 as a liaison. He said with thorough preparations in foreign languages and professional knowledge, and a particular focus on peace keeping activities, Vietnamese officers had overcome all hardships to accomplish their missions. 

Trong recalled: “There was a conflict in which some thousands of militia controlled an area and forced local residents to pay taxes. We had to intervene and asked them not to do so. When they found out we were officers of the Vietnamese People’s Army, they became closer to us saying that their commanders had read about Vietnamese history. Thanks to such personal stories, we successfully resolved the bigger issue.”

Lt. Col. Nguyen Xuan Thanh, one of officers participating in the UN mission in the Central African Republic, said all of them worked hard to promote the image of the Vietnamese nation, its culture and people, and the People’s Army to more than 40 countries around the world.

The successful organization of Vietnam’s National Day celebration has become an unforgettable memory for Lt. Col. Nguyen Xuan Thanh who served as a military adjutant at the UN mission in the Central African Republic.

He said: “What I was impressed with the most is the speech by a lieutenant general and acting commander of the Bangladeshi Military Force to 150 military staff and officers from various countries. He said he felt honored to attend the celebration of Vietnam’s National Day and that Bangladesh and other countries experiencing wars can understand the value of independence. I’m proud that they know Vietnam and they realize how important it is to fight for national independence.”

Vietnam’s higher position

To date, Vietnam has 12 officers to UN peace keeping missions in South Sudan and the Central African Republic from the initial two officers 2 years ago.

Colonel Hoang Kim Phung, Director of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre, said the establishment and assignment of officers to the UN peace-keeping force was of great political significance, gradually elevating Vietnam’s status on the international arena.

Phung said: “This is the first time Vietnam has sent its forces to other countries to join efforts with the international community to overcome the consequences of wars and undertake humanitarian relief work as a UN member country. This move has been praised by the UN and has boosted Vietnam’s relations with the forces of other participating countries.”

During a working visit to Vietnam, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon spoke highly of Vietnamese staff’s active participation in UN peace-keeping activities.

Vietnam is completing legal frameworks for peace-keeping force deployment to ensure global security and peace, as well as to improve Vietnam’s position in the international arena.