Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (front, right) and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (front, left) at the open debate on January 9, 2020. (Photo: VNA)

The debate, held at UN headquarters in New York on the occasion of the UN’s 75th anniversary, occurred in the first month of Vietnam’s Security Council membership. Mr. Minh said: “We must act to ensure that the United Nations and its action reflect the common interests of all member states. We must promote multilateralism, equitable relations between states in accordance with the UN Charter. This is the only way to maintain international peace and security, promote sustainable development, address climate change and facilitate post-conflict reconstruction for a better, more peaceful and just world”.

Mr. Minh said UN Security Council members should take the lead in following the UN Charter. He called on them to increase dialogue; uphold multilateralism; maximize the tools that the Charter provides; and ensure that making and implementing strategies and policies on development, security, defense, and external relations is in line with international law and the UN Charter.