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DPM Minh meets UN Secretary-General, foreign officials

VGP – Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh chaired a working luncheon between the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, held bilateral meetings with Administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Achim Steiner and Executive Director of the UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka in New York on January 9-10.

January 11, 2020 1:38 PM GMT+7

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh meets with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the UN headquarters in New York on January 9, 2020. 

On the occasion, Minh also had bilateral meetings with Foreign Minister of Nicaragua Denis Moncada, Foreign Minister of Timor-Leste  Dionisio Babo Soares, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Sergiy Kyslytsya, and  former President of Ireland Mary Robinson.

At these meetings, the UN leaders and foreign countries’ officials spoke highly of the international status of Viet Nam as the country is currently the UNSC non-permanent member and ASEAN Chair as well as success of the open debate chaired by Viet Nam and topic of the debate on the UN Charter.

During the working session between the UNSC and Secretary-General of the UN Antonio Guterres, the two sides discussed cooperation between the UNSC and the UN Secretariat and issues of common concerns.

Deputy PM Minh asserted that the maintenance of exchange channel and close coordination between the UNSC and the Secretariat has helped the UNSC update information timely and comprehensively, thus figuring out effective measures to reduce tensions, prevent conflicts, handle disputes peacefully, and make better contributions to maintaining international and regional peace and security.

At the bilateral meeting between Minh and Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General highly appraised cooperation between Viet Nam and the UN as well as the country’s development achievements and commitments to realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and adapting to climate change.

Viet Nam holds a special position and an important factor contributing to peace and stability in ASEAN, Guterres said, affirming his support for addressing disputes in the East Sea with peaceful measures in line with the international law.

Minh appreciated the UN’s cooperation and assistance for Viet Nam’s national development, suggesting the UN and the Secretary-General continue their support for peaceful resolution of disputes in the East Sea.

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Achim Steiner.

At the meeting with Administrator of the UNDP Achim Steiner, Minh also extended thanks for the UNDP assistance for Viet Nam over the recent four decades, asking the UNDP to continue strategic consultation with Viet Nam, especially in restructuring the economy, adapting to climate change, realizing the SDGs and sustainably exploiting the Mekong river water resources.

Achim Steiner congratulated on Viet Nam’s great development achievements over the pas time, pledging that the UNDP is willing to provide policy recommendations for Viet Nam’s new development stage.

At the meeting with Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Deputy PM Minh asked the UN Women continue support for Viet Nam to promote the topics on women, peace and security within the framework of the UN and to foster gender equality and women’s empowerment in the coming time.

Minh and Nicaraguan FM Denis Moncada agreed to boost political dialogue and consider negotiating the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) to create a legal framework for bilateral cooperation.

He conveyed the invitation of Party General Secretary, State President Nguyen Phu Trong to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega to pay an official visit to Viet Nam.

Timor-Leste’s FM Dionisio Babo Soares said that his country expects to join ASEAN and accelerate the bilateral cooperation with Viet Nam, adding that Timor-Leste is willing to support activities of Viet Nam’s enterprises in Timor-Leste, including Viettel.

For his side, Minh asked Timor-Leste to soon ratify trade agreement between the two countries to create legal framework for strengthening the bilateral trade.

The two sides consented to step up cooperation and coordination at international and regional forums, including the UN.

During the meeting with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Sergiy Kyslytsya, Minh extended deep condolences to the Ukrainian Government, people and the families of the victims in the serious airplane accident in Iran on January 8, 2020.

Both sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, including exchanging delegation at all levels and organizing annual political consultations, and boost economic and trade cooperation.

The Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister expressed hope to work with Viet Nam at multi-lateral forums, particularly the UN and promote cooperation with ASEAN, saying his country wishes to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

By Thuy Dung