UN chief hails Vietnam's participation in peacekeeping operations

The United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Saturday that after one year participating in the UN peacekeeping operations, the Vietnam Peacekeeping Center is expected to grow into an impressive source of talented and dedicated personnel for global operations.

The remark was made during Ban's attendance to the one-year anniversary of Vietnam's participation in UN peacekeeping operations held in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Saturday.

"I thank everyone involved in this center for training troops, police and military experts so they can do their best when they deploy," the UN chief said in his speech.

Ban said Vietnam's contributions in UN peacekeeping are growing while expressing his grateful for the country's preparation in deploying a field hospital which, as Ban said, will bring much more relief to people in need.

The deployment of the field hospital will also stand as powerful proof of Vietnam's commitment to the world, said the UN chief.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region is an important contributor to UN peacekeeping. Vietnam will be part of the UN's deeper cooperation with ASEAN, Ban said.

The UN chief also said he looks forward to Vietnam's attending in the Peacekeeping Summit which he will co-host with President of the United States, in the margins of the General Assembly this September.

Speaking at the conference, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh said Vietnam's participation in UN peacekeeping operations demonstrates the country's responsibility to the international community.

Vietnam stands ready to join hands with other countries in maintaining peace and security worldwide, Minh said.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Chi Vinh, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Defense said Vietnam will continue participating in and training forces to join UN peacekeeping operations.

With Vietnam Peacekeeping Center (VPC) inaugurated on May 27, 2014 in Hanoi, Vietnam officially joined the UN peacekeeping activities. The first two Vietnamese army officers have been sent to South Sudan for UN peacekeeping task.