India-Vietnam Connect in UN Security Council

India and Vietnam, currently serving as non-permanent members in the UNSC, have decided to intensify their cooperation on cross-cutting issues in in the UN Security Council such as reforming global governance.

Senior officials of the two sides held discussions on enhancing cooperation in the UNSC on March 11. In this bilateral discussion, the Vietnamese delegation was led by Do Hung Viet, Director-General, Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indian side was led by Prakash Gupta, Joint Secretary (UNP & Summits). “Both sides discussed a wide range of issues on the UNSC agenda and briefed each other on their UNSC priorities,” said India’s Ministry of External Affairs in a statement.

Vietnam’s core priorities for its 2020-21 term as non-permanent member of UNSC includes peacekeeping, war legacy issues, climate change, and coordination between the UN and ASEAN. Vietnam was chair of the ASEAN in 2020. Vietnam’s UNSC term reflects the country’s rising international prestige and its emergence as a growing economy despite the pandemic.

Vietnam would be holding the Presidency of the UNSC in April 2021 and has been an ardent supporter for India’s bid for permanent membership at the Security Council.

Reforming global governance institutions, including the UN, and promoting reformed multilateralism are important areas in which India and Vietnam will cooperate proactively in the UNSC.

“Vietnam will also enhance the spirit of “partnership for sustainable peace” with many solutions in conflict prevention, the construction of peace, and post-conflict reconstruction, as well as the promotion of multilateralism and multilateral institutions, especially the UN and regional organisations,” said Pham Binh Minh, Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“We will give particular focus to conflict prevention, preventive diplomacy, peaceful settlement of disputes, and strengthened implementation of Chapter VI of the UN Charter,” according to a document by Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “We will also improve the methods of the Security Council’s work, enhancing engagement with regional arrangements in the maintenance of international peace and security, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the UN Charter.”

Peacekeeping is another crucial area where India and Vietnam will work closely. Vietnam will give special focus to UN peacekeeping and seeking solutions for responding to and reducing climate change impacts on international peace and security.

Recently, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations T.S Tirumurti attended the informal meet of the Security Council on peacemaking where he discussed a wide range of issues at the UNSC including ‘Strengthen further safety and security of peacekeepers’, ‘Bring perpetrators of heinous crime against them to justice’ and ‘Enhance use of technology for safety’.

Keeping in mind the UN Peacekeepers who operate in such difficult circumstances, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently announced a gift of 200,000 COVID-19 doses for the peacekeeping forces.

India and Vietnam will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership this year and the 50th year anniversary of Diplomatic Relations in 2022. Vietnam has emerged as a star economic performer in the pandemic period and has entrenched its reputation as the fastest growing economy in the ASEAN region. In days to come, the two countries will not only enhance their economic partnership but also strategic partnership and cooperation in the multilateral arena.

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Manish Chand

Manish Chand is Founder-CEO and Editor-in-Chief of India Writes Network (www.indiawrites.org) and India and World, a pioneering magazine focused on international affairs. He is CEO/Director of TGII Media Private Limited, an India-based media, publishing, research and consultancy company.