Press Conference by Permanent Representative of Viet Nam

 

Viet Nam seeks to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts not only with its neighbours, but also internationally as it continues to implement a foreign policy of peace and development cooperation while striving to become a constructive and responsible member of the international community, the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations said at Headquarters today.

“In our foreign policy, we attach importance to the work of international organizations, especially the United Nations at the global level, and in our region, the Association of South-East Asian Nations,” Le Hoai Trung said at a press conference.  That was a concept that Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung would highlight during his address to the General Assembly on 27 September.

He said Viet Nam attached great importance to the upcoming sixty-eighth session, firstly because of persisting tensions and conflict in various parts of the world, and continuing uncertainties in the global economic picture.  The second reason was the importance of the session’s main theme this year — “The Post-2015 Development Agenda:  Setting the Stage”.  The Prime Minister’s address would express Viet Nam’s views on the international and regional security situations as well as his views on the session’s theme.

Outlining a number of priority issues for his country, he said it would continue to enhance its contribution to the easing of tensions, the prevention of conflicts and the maintenance of international peace and security.  In that regard, the country would promote its overall views as would be articulated in the Prime Minister’s statement.  Viet Nam would also participate in discussions on a number of regional issues, both in the General Assembly and the Security Council.

Another priority issue concerned disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, he continued.  Viet Nam would not only take part in discussions on those topics, but would participate in the formulation of resolutions in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).  It was of equal importance for Viet Nam, as a maritime country, to participate in discussions on the ocean and the law of the sea.

Besides issues of international and regional peace and security, he said, development was another major area of importance for Viet Nam.  A number of high-level political meetings was necessary to help set the stage for the post-2015 development agenda, particularly on matters pertaining to migration and development and persons with disabilities.   Viet Nam also attached importance to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, and to the special event to review implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.  Yet another area of priority was the discussions on strengthening cooperation in the area of human rights, he said, noting that Viet Nam had applied to be a member of the Human Rights Council.

Asked for an update on Viet Nam’s economic reforms, Mr. Le said economic growth had been one of the main pillars of his country’s policies since the 1980s.  For about 20 years, the country had been able to grow at an average rate of 6.5 per cent to about 7 per cent, while this year’s growth rate was about 5.3 per cent.  “In general, we have been able to grow at a reasonably high rate, and during that process, we have been able to diversify the economy,” he said, adding that today, the service and industrial sectors accounted for about 70 to 80 per cent of the economy.  Regional and global economic integration was an important part of Viet Nam’s overall strategy of international integration, he added.

In response to questions about his country’s disarmament efforts, policies and conflict-resolution efforts in the region and elsewhere, he emphasized that Viet Nam advocated peace and dialogue on the Korean peninsula, and was a party to all major international legal instruments relating to weapons of mass destruction.  “We hope that all the differences can be solved through dialogue and negotiations,” he said.  “That is why we very much hope that the six-party talks will bring about positive results so that they can contribute to peace and stability on the peninsula of Korea, which is very important to peace and security in Asia and the Pacific,” he said.

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For information media • not an official record