President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (middle row, 7th from left) and participants at the commendation ceremony on October 18, 2021. (Photo: VNA)

At the ceremony, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc presented the Second-class Fatherland Defense Order to the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations for their contributions to the UN peacekeeping mission over the past years, contributing to the cause of national defense.

President Phuc said that as peacekeeping operations face unpredictable changes given the complicated development of international affairs, participating Vietnamese forces need to be positive, proactive, but cautious to deal with any circumstances.

The President said believes that in the coming time, the Vietnamese blue beret soldiers will successfully fulfill the role of "Peace Ambassadors" in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission, contributing to promoting the image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the eyes of international friends.