The UN Security Council is tasked with maintaining global peace and security. It consists of 15 members including five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US, and 10 non-permanent members elected by the UN General Assembly to 2-year tenures. The 10 non-permanent seats are geographically distributed.  

Vietnam’s comprehensive contribution to the UN

As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the 2008-2009 tenure, Vietnam participated in 1,500 meetings and negotiations and the drafting of resolutions and documents. Vietnam was President or Vice President of Security Council sub-committees and was twice rotating President of the Council, developed an Annual Report on the performance of the Council, and drafted a resolution on women, peace, and security. As a representative of Asia, Vietnam focused on peaceful settlement of regional problems. As rotating Council President, Vietnam promoted open discussions on the peace process in the Middle East. Vietnam supported war avoidance, disarmament, anti-terrorism efforts, reduction of sanctions and sovereignty protection, and pushed back against attempts to abuse democracy and human rights or intervene in another country’s internal affairs. Vietnam enhanced its relations with other countries on the basis of respecting and protecting each country’s legitimate interests in line with the UN Charter and international law. Vietnam conducted regular exchanges with Asian, African, and Arab countries and played a key role in Council’s Non-Aligned Group.

During its last tenure on the Security Council, Vietnam pursued a foreign policy of promoting peace in settling conflicts and crises around the world.

Vietnam’s status raised

The UN Secretary General and leaders of other countries praised Vietnam’s proactive and responsible contribution to the Council. They expressed a hope that Vietnam will play an even greater role in regional and global forums when it becomes ASEAN Chair in 2020.