Nguyễn Quốc Dũng Vice Foreign Minister of Việt Nam speaks at the opening of Seventh ASEAN-UN Workshop – 5th regional dialogue on political-security cooperation held in Hà Nội on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

HÀ NỘI — Over the last four decades, ASEAN-United Nations relations have become a role model for co-operation between the UN and regional organisations, said Nguyễn Quốc Dũng Vice Foreign Minister of Việt Nam.

He made the statement at the Seventh ASEAN-UN Workshop – 5th regional dialogue on political-security co-operation which was held in Hà Nội on Tuesday.

The workshop aimed at discussing co-operation in support of the work of the ASEAN-Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR), including in conflict management and conflict resolution. It was organised by the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry and the UN Departments of Political and Peace building Affairs and Peace Operations.

The workshop drew more than 80 people including former senior officials, experts from ASEAN institutions, the UN as well as former Secretary-General of ASEAN Ong Keng Yong and Lê Lương Minh.

Dũng said the AIPR has become ASEAN’s knowledge hub and centre of excellence in building capacity on conflict resolution and strengthening peace-oriented values towards harmony, peace, security and stability in the region and beyond.

Given growing uncertainties from rapid development, he called for closer collaboration between ASEAN and the UN to enhance political and security co-operation in conflict prevention.

“The ASEAN success story lies in its ability to help maintain regional peace and stability over the past decades. It has also reached out to contribute to global efforts for peace and security, including through participation in UN peacekeeping operations.”

“With two ASEAN member states, Indonesia and Việt Nam, sitting on the UNSC in 2020, ASEAN can do more to synergise ASEAN’s regional efforts with the global cause led by the UN to ensure that international peace and security are secured and sustained amid fast-changing and complex developments. As the ASEAN Chair and non-permanent member of the UNSC in 2020, Việt Nam is committed to doing its utmost in this regard,” Dũng said.

Addressing the workshop, Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN, highlighted the importance of collaboration in prevention of conflict through international diplomacy, research, knowledge sharing and networking.

“As Southeast Asia lies in the centre of one of the most dynamic regions in the world, ASEAN will continue to promote peace and stability as well as economic prosperity in the region and continue to reinforce the ASEAN-centered regional architecture,” he said.

Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations Khaled Khiari said strengthening co-operation with regional organisations was important tor the United Nations to address complex challenges to peace and security.

“As ASEAN has become increasingly engaged in advancing global and regional approaches to peace and security, the ASEAN-Institute for Peace and Reconciliation has emerged as its first formalised platform for conflict prevention, including research in experiences of conflict resolution in the region,” he said.

He said the UN was ready to push collaboration with the ASEAN and AIPR, including the newly-established ASEAN Women’s Peace Registry.

The two-day workshop will end on Wednesday. — VNS