VN Peacekeeping Department makes debut

Addressing the event, Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh congratulated the VPC on its upgrade, saying this not only reflects the Party and Government’s recognition of the center’s contributions but also demonstrates the unit’s important responsibility in the time ahead. 

Participation in the UN peacekeeping operations (PKO) is a big guideline of the Party and State, contributing to realizing Viet Nam’s extensive international integration, especially in the field of defence, thus opening up a new cooperation channel with the UN and other important partners, he affirmed.

Politburo member Minh stressed the need to focus on closely following and seriously implementing the Party’s foreign policy manifested in the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress, in deploying peacekeeping forces. 

He urged ministries and sectors to closely work with the Defence Ministry in peacekeeping-related activities in order to provide timely advice for the Party and Government in the implementation of fieldwork missions and involvement in the UN’s relevant policy planning.

He requested that the VPD give priority to promptly finalizing the legal base and cooperation mechanisms, whilst perfecting its apparatus, in service of the faster and more organized deployment of Viet Nam’s participating forces, aiming to meet the urgent requirements of the situation.

The deputy PM asked the department to boost human resources training, particularly in improving specialized skills and language proficiency for officers and soldiers, towards taking over a bigger role and performing well its noble peace-creating and peacekeeping missions.

At the ceremony, the inter-sectoral working group on peacekeeping operations was transferred from the Foreign Ministry to the Ministry of Defence.

VGP