A meeting was held in New York on Friday to review activities of the UN Security Council (UNSC) during January. — VNA/VNS Photo

NEW YORK — Head of Việt Nam’s mission to the UN Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý chaired a session on Friday to review the UN Security Council (UNSC)'s activities during January, the month Việt Nam held the Presidency of the UNSC.

The meeting was attended by more than 100 representatives from UN member countries and observers, including 23 ambassadors and head of missions.  
Taking the rotary presidency of the UNSC in the first month of the year marking the 75th anniversary of the UN Charter, Việt Nam selected a priority theme as adhering to the UN Charter to maintain international peace and security. The initiative was meant to promote adherence to international law, the UN Charter and reiterate the importance of multilateral co-operation in international peace and security.
The second initiative was the first-ever meeting at the UNSC on co-operation between the UN and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The event provided an opportunity for the international community and the UNSC to get an insight into ASEAN’s role in the region and discuss ways to enhance collaboration between the UN and the regional bloc.
Việt Nam took the occasion to affirm that as Chair of ASEAN in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the UNSC, it will make efforts to promote co-operation between the two organisations, focusing on priority fields such as the peaceful settlement of disputes, preventive diplomacy, disarmament, maintenance of peace, anti-terrorism, maritime co-operation and maritime security. Also on the occasion, Việt Nam proposed holding a high-level ASEAN-UN dialogue on sustainable development on the occasion of the ASEAN-UN Summit slated for October 2020 in Việt Nam.
  
The initiatives aside, Việt Nam made timely reactions to arising issues that threatened international peace and security, responded to countries’ ideas and proposals, and creatively utilised the UNSC’s rules and practices and promoted consensus so the council could make timely decisions.                   
During the month under the presidency of Việt Nam, the UNSC held 30 official activities, including two open debates, eight sessions to listen to reports and four sessions to approve resolutions.   

As UNSC president, Việt Nam also held an international press conference and many press briefings on the council’s work. The council adopted 13 decisions, including four resolutions and a decision on extending the mandate of UN missions, forces and mechanisms, one declaration of the UNSC President, five press statements and two press releases.
At the session, many delegates said Việt Nam performed its role as president of the UNSC well. They said Việt Nam has built a reasonable agenda and handled complex issues in a flexible manner. Many recognised Việt Nam’s efforts to regularly provide information on the council’s work to non-member countries, non-governmental organisations and the media.
Following Việt Nam, Belgium will be the next president of the UNSC. — VNS