Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh attended a UN Security Council online meeting on equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. (Photo: VNA)

Minh was invited by Dominic Raab, the UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs and Security Council President for February.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the international community needs an effective strategy and immunization program to defeat the coronavirus. An environment of peace, security, and stability is critical to ensuring the unhindered delivery of vaccines to those in need. It is also vital to protect infrastructures that are critical to the survival of the civilian population.

According to the Vietnamese diplomat, the Council must enforce Resolution 2532, including demanding a global ceasefire to enable the delivery of vaccines and the implementation of a vaccination campaign. He urged the world community to look beyond vaccines and the pandemic and address the root causes of the conflicts, fragilities, inequalities, and injustices exacerbated by the pandemic. The world must engage in a multilateral effort led by the United Nations to build stronger, more resilient health systems and leverage development assistance, global trade, and economic cooperation in the aftermath of the pandemic, Minh said.

The Deputy Prime Minister said Vietnam, as a reliable ASEAN and UN member, is committed to the global effort to move beyond the pandemic.