MARGARITA, Venezuela - The strength of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is best displayed when its member countries are unified, raise one voice and act as one on the basis of the founding objectives and principles of the movement, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh said.

The Deputy PM and Foreign Minister sent the message to the 17th NAM Summit that kicked off in Margarita, Venezuela on Saturday.

In his speech, titled “strengthening solidarity on the basis of common objectives and principles for peace, sovereignty and sustainable development,” the Vietnamese representative said over the past 55 years, NAM has grown stronger and greatly contributed to the struggle for peace and against war, national independence, and mutual assistance for development.

The official noted that along with development opportunities, the world today presents many unprecedented challenges.

“Security threats, conflicts, lack of respect for or disregard of international law, interference, coercion and imposition by big powers of values, views and selfish interests still linger,” he added.

On top of those, he said, inequities in international trade and finance, climate change, environment and marginalisation risk, unilateralism and terrorism have been on the rise and cannot be addressed by a single country.

In this context, NAM must first reconsolidate the unity and solidarity of its 120 members. In this endeavor, adherence to international law is the prerequisite for a stable, democratic and rules-based international relations and respect for sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and international peace and security.

The Deputy PM underlined the need to strive for the best development interests of the Movement in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, with particular emphasis on the principle of  “Common but Differentiated Responsibilities.”

At the same time, it is necessary to revitalise and explore innovative modalities to foster such co-operation mechanisms as South-South, tripartite, intra- and inter-regional and sub-regional co-operation, he said.

Minh also referred to ASEAN’s efforts in building its community, especially in promoting peace, security, stability and development, and addressing complicated regional challenges, including the East Sea (South China Sea) issue.

He called upon all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint and solve disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, fully respect diplomatic and legal processes, implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and expedite the completion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The Non-Aligned Movement is the second largest international organisation in the world, after the United Nations (UN). It currently has 120 member states, 17 observer countries and 10 observer organisations.

Bilateral meetings

Minh had separate meetings yesterday with leaders of El Salvador, Haiti and Burundi, on the sidelines of the 17th NAM Summit.

Meeting with the President of El Salvador Sánchez Cerén, the Deputy PM assured him of Việt Nam’s policy on developing multi-faceted relations with his country. The President said his country would set up a diplomatic representation in Việt Nam to promote economic and trade links between the two countries.

At the meeting with Haitian Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles, the two sides hailed the positive development of bilateral ties, reflected through high-level visits and an effectively operating telecom project. The Haitian side urged Việt Nam to send experts to Haiti to share experience and techniques in rice cultivation.

Minh and Burundi’s Foreign Minister Alain Aimé Nyamitwe stressed the necessity to enhance exchanges of all-level visits between the two nations, and sign economic co-operation agreements soon. The Vietnamese leader called on Burundi to facilitate Viettel Group’s Lumitel telecom project, thereby expanding links between the countries in other fields in the future. – VNS