Soldiers of Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 and Engineering Unit Rotation 3 depart for United Nations' peacekeeping missions from Hà Nội. VNA/VNS Photos Trọng Đức

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of National Defence on Tuesday held a deployment ceremony for Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 and Engineering Unit Rotation 3 to begin their United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions in South Sudan's contested Abyei border area.

Addressing the units at the ceremony, Major General Phạm Mạnh Thắng, Director of the Việt Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said that all members of both units have completed their preparations and are ready to embark on their missions.

The 63 members of the field hospital have been thoroughly trained in political, military, logistical, technical and medical expertise, as well as peacekeeping knowledge, meeting all UN criteria and mission requirements.

The engineer unit comprises 184 members, including 18 female soldiers. The Việt Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations has also coordinated with partner countries to improve its capacity in infrastructure and construction engineering to better provide humanitarian support during assigned tasks and missions. 

On behalf of the Party and State, Vice President Võ Thị Ánh Xuân praised Việt Nam’s achievements in UN peacekeeping operations over the past decade, highlighting it as a significant aspect of the country's multilateral foreign relations. 

Vice President Võ Thị Ánh Xuân presents the State President's deployment decision for Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 and Engineering Unit Rotation 3.

Việt Nam’s achievements in this area demonstrate the country's responsibility to the international community and contributions in addressing both traditional and non-traditional challenges globally and regionally.

The vice president expressed her confidence that the deployed units would continue the tradition of previous peacekeeping forces, successfully meeting the UN’s requirements and honouring the great traditions of the Vietnamese army. 

She also expressed gratitude to the UN, partner countries and international organisations for their support for Việt Nam in preparing and carrying out peacekeeping operations, and hoped for their continuing assistance in the future. 

To enhance Việt Nam’s involvement in peacekeeping operations, Xuân urged the defence and public security ministries to coordinate with related departments, consult with the Party and the State to perfect the legal framework for Việt Nam’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations and ensure benefits for officers and soldiers on these missions. 

She recommended effective strategic research to gradually expand the nation's personnel and areas of participation, striving to take on leadership and management roles at UN Headquarters and on missions that would benefit from Việt Nam's strengths. 

Việt Nam's peacekeeping soldiers and Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Việt Nam at the deployment ceremony.

Vice President Xuân also called for maintaining and increasing the participation rate of female soldiers in peacekeeping forces. 

Other areas of focus include improving the quality of preparation and training, especially in peacekeeping expertise, language proficiency, soft skills and survival skills, and promoting a spirit of self-reliance, confidence and resilience.

Close cooperation with other peacekeeping forces should be maintained to enhance the operations' effectiveness, share experiences and leverage international resources to become fully proactive in participating in the UN’s peacekeeping mechanisms.

Speaking on behalf of Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 and Engineering Unit Rotation 3 at the ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Trần Anh Đức said that he is honoured to be part of the peacekeeping missions, expressing his unwavering loyalty to Việt Nam and readiness to fulfil all assigned duties. — VNS