HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam is strongly committed towards efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, said Ambassador Nguyễn Phương Nga, Việt Nam’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN).

Speaking at the UN Security Council’s Open Debate on “The global effort to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by non-state actors” in New York on Wednesday, the diplomat said Việt Nam supports the ongoing UN conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument that bans nuclear weapons, paving the way for their total elimination.

“We acknowledge the positive progress made by member states to the success of the Open-Ended Working Group on the Fourth Special Session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament,” she said.

The ambassador appreciated the Security Council for adopting Resolution 2325, which has mapped out a global agenda for full implementation of Resolution 1540, as well as the increased co-operation and coordination at national, regional and international levels in global non-proliferation endeavours between the UN and other stakeholders. 

However, she said, “Non-proliferation efforts should not hinder the legitimate rights of states to acquire, produce and use chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear-related materials, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes.”

Nga underlined the importance of avoiding placing undue burden on states in these efforts, and suggested that states, especially developing countries, should get help to develop effective strategies for countering new types of crime.

In his opening remarks, UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed said the UN prioritises coordinating joint efforts to cope with the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by non-state actors, and called on countries to fully implement the Security Council’s Resolutions 2325 and 1540.

Mohammed said the Security Council is willing to support and provide technical assistance to member nations to improve their national capacity for import-export control of certain weapons and materials, to strengthen preventive measures and to develop better resilience for disarmament and non-proliferation of such weapons, as well as cyberattacks. — VNS