Vietnam chairs the first meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) –Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has granted aninterview to press agencies on foreign affairs, on the occasion of the traditionallunar ꦕNew Yea♕r.

Reviewing the world’s situation in 2019, Minhsaid the global economy experien⭕ced the lowest growth of 2.9-3 percent(according to the International Monetary Fund) since the global financialcrisis in 2008-2009.

One of the reasons behindthis was the slow growth of developing countries, the implementation of tradeprotection policies, and the trade competition between China and the US.

Furthermore, uncertainties are increasing,especially in hot spots such as the Middle East, Minh said, referring to the terrorismfight and the strategic competition between powers.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the violation byChinese survey vessel group Haiyang Dizhi 8 of Vietnam’s exclusive economiczone complicated the situation, Minh said, adding that 2020 will continue to bea tough year with a lot of unpredictable developmen✱ts.

Despite these headwinds in 2019, Vietnam achievedsignificant external activities, Minh stressed, pointing out that Vietnam has developedsound relations with powers as well as neighbouring countries.

To date, Vietnam has set up strategic and comprehensive partnership with 30countries, he stressed.

In addition, the country also brought into full play the role of multilateraldiplomacy as stipulated in the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat’s DirectiveNo.25- CT/TW.

The hosting of the second DPRK – USA Summit in Hanoi at the beginning of 2019is a vivid illustration for Vietnam’s readiness to join global efforts to bringpeace and stability to the Korean peninsula. In other words, Vietnam is willin𒀰gto play the role as a conciliator, he said.

The Deputy PM and FM said being a member of the UN Security Council is anhonour and also a responsibility for Vietnam, as it raises the country’srole in addressing the world’s major issues.

It is not thefirst time Vietnam won a seatat the UNSC, he said, adding that the country used to be there from 2008 – 2009. But this time, the countrytakes on much heavier responsibility as the world is seeing complicated developmentsand at the UNSC, the differences on interests remains large, the Deputy PM noted.

But joiningthe UNSC at a difficult time will offer Vietnam an opportunity to promote itsrole and responsibility, he asserted.

In the firstmonth in the new position, Vietnam became the UNSC President and the topic proposed by Vietnamin an open UNSC debate saw a record number of 110 countries participating in.

Taking thedual role as the UNSCPresident and the ASEANChair, Vietnam has initiated to provide the UNSC with information about ASEANto beef up relations between the two sides. This is the first time such a work is done, thus raising the roleand image of the regional grouping./.