Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN (Photo: VNA)

The statement called on parties involved to continue commitments to implementing the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for Congo and the Region endorsed by 13 signatory countries, the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, the Southern African Development Community and the UN.

At Wednesday’s UN meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya and Council President for October Raychelle Omamo, Vietnam voiced concerns about the situation in Great Lakes countries in Africa and emphasized a need to address the root causes of instability.

Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, upheld the role of regional cooperation and hailed efforts made to promote relations between Great Lakes countries. But he said the humanitarian situation remains worrisome, especially in eastern Congo.

He expressed his concern over the plight of millions of displaced people and refugees, as well as the more than 27 million people in Congo that face crisis‑level food insecurity.  In that context, he encouraged the further intensification of cooperation to implement the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework, to strengthen management of nature resources and to tackle threats posed by armed groups.