Vietnam lauds cooperation between UN, African Union

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN (Photo: VNA)

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN, spoke highly of the cooperation between the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) while attending the annual consultation between the two councils held online on September 29.

He highlighted their cooperative achievements in the recent past with the establishment of peace keeping missions in Darfur (Sudan) and Somalia, the initiative “Silencing the Guns in Africa by the Year 2020”, and various activities to promote peace and security as well as women empowerment.

As Africa is facing formidable challenges, Ambassador Quy expressed his hope that the UNSC and the AUPSC will continue looking into new cooperative measures to seek suitable settlement.

He took the occasion to hail the AU’s role in promoting multilateralism and making contributions to the UN’s work.

Quy affirmed Vietnam always treasures the traditional friendship and cooperation with African nations, suggesting that ASEAN and the AU can cooperate and share experience in various fields.

At the meeting, participants discussed measures to boost collaboration between the UNSC and AUPSC, and create opportunities for development in Africa through the initiative “Silencing the Guns in Africa by the Year 2020”.

Members of the two councils lauded recent progress in politics, security and economy in Africa while pointing out the continent’s tough challenges of armed conflicts, terrorism, natural disaster, poverty and disease.

They shared the view that both sides need to enhance cooperation efficiency and promote the implementation of the initiative “Silencing the Guns in Africa” after 2020.

They said it is necessary to increase the role of the A3 group - the three non-permanent African members of the UNSC namely Niger, South Africa and Tunisia - in African issues at the UNSC.

Both councils are to continue consultations on Mali, Somali and Sahel situation and issue a joint statement on September 30.

The annual consultation between the UNSC and AUPSC was established in 2007 to enhance bilateral cooperation in peace and security in Africa. This was the first time the consultation was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic./.

VNA