The moment the entire General Assembly meeting room, with representatives from over 190 countries, erupted in applause when the record number of votes for Vietnam was announced still fills many with pride in the name of Vietnam on the international stage.
Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy gave a thumbs-up after Vietnam was elected to the Security Council with a record number of votes in June 2019. Sitting next to him was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung - Photo: AFP
Nearly two years after Vietnam successfully completed its term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council , the moment when the entire General Assembly meeting room, with representatives from over 190 countries, erupted in applause upon the announcement of Vietnam's record-breaking vote count still fills many with pride in Vietnam's standing on the international stage.
Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations (2018-2022), was present at that moment.
He also served as the head of the Vietnamese delegation to the United Nations on both occasions when Vietnam held the rotating presidency of the Security Council.
Strongly Vietnamese imprint
* Sir, the moment the results were announced – Vietnam receiving 192 out of 193 votes to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the second time – evoked strong emotions in people both domestically and internationally. Could you share more about the process leading to this remarkable result and the assessments of our international friends?
- 192/193 is a record number of votes in the 74-year history of the United Nations. Countries voted for Vietnam because of its glorious history of resistance against foreign invaders, for the independence and freedom of its people, and also for the shared values of humanity.
This is also because Vietnam is one of the few countries that have successfully developed after gaining independence, and because they expect Vietnam to take on a more active role in the common work of the international community.
But to achieve that result, we persevered in our lobbying for 10 years, right after the end of our first term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council (2008-2009).
We campaigned for them to "cede" us as the sole candidate from the Asia- Pacific region, campaigning for them to vote for us without demanding any exchange of votes or setting any conditions.
During our second term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, we actively contributed to safeguarding international peace and security. These activities left a significant mark on the work of the Security Council, even during a period when the world faced the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19.
It's difficult to know precisely how the international community views Vietnam. However, my feeling is that the work we've done at the Security Council during our second term as a non-permanent member has earned us more respect from major powers and greater affection from our friends.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Data: DUY LINH
* During your time as head of the Vietnamese delegation to the United Nations, Vietnam twice held the rotating presidency of the Security Council. Is there any story that stands out most in your memory from this period?
- Serving as the rotating chair is a great responsibility but also a great honor. Due to the alphabetical order, in each term, some non-permanent member countries only get to hold this position once.
Vietnam has been fortunate enough to have this opportunity twice. The first time we held the chairmanship (January 2020) was also the first day of our term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. Coincidentally, that was also the first day the United Nations entered its 75th year since its founding.
Sitting in the chairman's chair, running according to a script but also wielding the gavel is quite stressful, especially when countries have differing opinions and scenarios.
In April 2021, for the second time, we held the presidency right when COVID-19 was raging fiercely in New York. The Security Council met online for the entire month. The President conducted meetings online, negotiated documents online, and lobbied online. We were constantly worried about losing the connection.
Fortunately for Vietnam, all the meetings during its presidency month had good internet connections, and communication between New York and Hanoi was always uninterrupted (while some major countries constantly experienced signal problems).
Our second month as President was also very successful; the Security Council adopted two presidential statements and a key resolution on "protecting infrastructure essential to civilians," which bore a strong Vietnamese imprint.
* Although the 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council are highly regarded for their role, some argue that they act as mediators, coordinating relations between the five permanent members of the Security Council. What are your thoughts on this assessment?
While reconciliation has occurred, it's difficult to say that relations among the five permanent members have been coordinated. On certain issues and at certain times when the permanent members hold differing views, the non-permanent members assign each other to contact and lobby each permanent member, engaging in "shuttle diplomacy" to help them find common ground.
A prime example is when cross-border humanitarian aid mechanisms in Syria expired, and the permanent member states held differing views.
If these mechanisms are not extended, millions of Syrians will face life-threatening situations due to a lack of medicine and food, and the non-permanent members of parliament have been trying to persuade, and even coax, the Secretary-General to exert pressure.
Ultimately, the mechanism was extended thanks to the solidarity of the non-permanent members, with 10 countries voting in favor while the 5 permanent members abstained.
Vietnamese female soldiers depart to carry out United Nations peacekeeping missions in Abyei and South Sudan in 2022 - Photo: NAM TRAN
Only national interests
* In handling matters at the Security Council, how does Vietnam reconcile national interests with international interests, sir?
In 1964, President Ho Chi Minh told diplomatic officials: "Whatever you do, do it for the benefit of the nation." In handling foreign affairs, national interest is both the foundation and the goal guiding action.
However, it is necessary to strike a balance between specific and broader interests, and between short-term and long-term interests. The work of the Security Council directly involves the interests of major powers, friendly nations, especially those in conflict zones. Therefore, determining these interests requires even greater balance.
* Many people still believe that behind the meetings and outcomes adopted at the United Nations are the results of lobbying and reciprocal support. Could you share more about Vietnam's fundamental principles in such interactions?
- I believe we must strive for a harmonious approach. The principle of foreign policy is to serve the national interest and be in accordance with international law .
If adhering to principles displeases a country, one must explain the situation to gain their understanding, and when opportunities arise to do something beneficial for them, one should strive to do so.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres converses with Vietnamese "Blue Beret" soldiers during his visit to Vietnam in October 2022. He expressed great affection for the soldiers of the peacekeeping force. - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH
* Currently, great power competition is becoming increasingly fierce, putting smaller countries in a difficult position or forcing them to choose sides. As a country with a strategic geographical location, how do you think Vietnam has managed to navigate the competition among major powers?
- I believe everything has two sides. Competition among major powers also creates opportunities because competition requires them to gather allies. We should befriend all parties for the benefit of our nation and people, based on international law.
The situation is ever-changing. With sufficient strength, courage, and the effective application of Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic lesson of "maintaining constancy while adapting to change," I believe we will be able to harmoniously manage our relations with major powers.
Diplomacy requires handshakes and hugs.
* How have non-traditional events like COVID-19 affected traditional multilateral diplomatic activities, sir? Yes, they have. Diplomacy is about contact, exchange, lobbying, negotiation... and lobbying. It requires interaction through language, gestures, demeanor, and even feelings. These things need to be done in person to be effective. A glance, a handshake, a hug... can replace many words and written statements. But because of COVID-19, we had to find other ways to work. I remember in March 2020, the month China held the presidency, the Security Council took almost two weeks to agree on the method of online meetings, especially the voting method. Basically, the Security Council completed its tasks, but it couldn't conduct many necessary activities, especially field trips to conflict zones.111
During its two years as a non-permanent member, Vietnam participated in all activities of the Security Council and successfully fulfilled its responsibilities as chair of two committees under this body.
Vietnam also initiated, chaired the drafting, negotiation, and submission to the Security Council for adoption of 2 resolutions and 3 statements by the President of the Security Council.
Notably, during its first month as the rotating president of the Security Council (January 2020), Vietnam set a record for the number of speeches delivered in a single open debate session of the Council, with 111 speeches over three sessions and three days, focusing on the theme: "Upholding the Charter in the preservation of international peace and security."
The inclusion of this theme in the first month of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations was a key reason for attracting a record number of speeches.
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