WASHINGTON — The United Nations (UN) should build a long-term and comprehensive strategy to prevent conflicts and maintain global peace, said Ambassador Nguyễn Phương Nga, head of Việt Nam’s Permanent Mission to the UN. 

At the UN Security Council’s open debate themed “Addressing Complex Contemporary Challenges to International Peace and Security” held on December 20, Ambassador Nga laid stress on the role of the UN Security Council in ensuring international security and peace. 

She affirmed support for the council’s reform towards greater representation, democracy, transparency and responsibility to ensure that the council can effectively carry out its mission. 

Regarding Asia-Pacific issue, Nga reiterated Việt Nam’s stance of supporting the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula via peaceful solutions and called on related parties to restrain and fully respect relevant resolutions issued by the UN Security Council. 

She asserted Việt Nam’s commitments in maintaining regional peace and stability and called on relevant sides to address East Sea disputes through peaceful measures which are in accordance with international regulations, including the US Convention on the Law of the Sea, while giving full respect for diplomatic and legal process, and observing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). 

The diplomat said with the adoption of the framework of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), all parties need to push forward with negotiations to make the COC effective and legally binding. 

The open debate was proposed by the Japanese mission to the UN, which is holding the presidency of the UN Security Council in December. 

At the event, UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres underlined existing challenges, including nuclear weapons, climate change, abuse of scientific and technological advances, ethnic and religious conflicts, terrorism and extremist violence, human trafficking and immigration crisis. 

He said the UN should uphold the central role of preventive diplomacy in companion with sustainable development and respect for human rights in addressing the challenges. 

Many countries expressed the opinion that the UN should adjust its approach to suit the rapid changes in the world, and welcomed the UN General Secretary’s initiatives on reforming the UN across the three pillars of peace-security, development and management work. — VNS