New York (VNA)♏ – Vietnam always attaches importance to preventing and settling challenges threatening peace early and from afar, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), said at an open debate held by the UN Security Council (UNSC) on August 21.

The debate on “A New Agenda for Peace – Addressing Global, Regional and National Aspects of Conflict Prevention” under the “Peacebuilding and sustaining peace” agenda item was chaired by Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Timothy Musa Kabba. It is one of the signature events of Sierra Leone’s August Council presidency, attracting the participation of representatives of over 73 countries and relevant international organisation. At the event, delegates expressed their concerns about major challenges threatening global peace and stability, especially risks from escalating geopolitical competition, armed conflicts, poverty, underdevelopment, and climate change. In that context, countries highly appreciated the “New Agenda for Peace” launched by the UN Secretary-General in July 2023, emphasising the need to increase the effectiveness of multilateral institutions and strengthen efforts at the global, regional and national levels to prevent conflicts, build and maintain sustainable peace. Speaking at the event, Giang said that in the context that the world is experiencing complicated developments, intertwined challenges and impacts of geopolitical, socio-economic and climate factors, the UN needs to have comprehensive and synchronous approaches to prevent conflicts, find the connections among three pillars of peace, development, and humanity, and promote the role of relevant mechanisms, especially the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission. The UNSC needs to effectively utilise available tools such as preventive diplomacy, trust building, and mediation on the basis of respecting international law and the UN Charter as well as the sovereignty and specific circumstances of each country involved, he suggested. Giang stressed that peace building and maintaining efforts should put people at the centre, prioritise addressing the root causes of conflicts, invest more in education and job creation, and encourage the participation of women and youths to ensure inclusiveness, comprehensiveness and sustainability of solutions. The UN and countries also need to focus on building and strengthening early warning capacity to promptly prevent risks before they escalate into crises, the diplomat said. Giang affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to preventing and early settling challenges that threaten peace by boosting socio-economic development, promoting national solidarity and unity, strengthening international cooperation, and strongly supporting bilateral and multilateral efforts to maintain peace and prevent conflicts. “A New Agenda for Peace” initiated by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in July 2023 sets out a vision for multilateral cooperation to maintain global peace and security in the new context on the basis of international law and fundamental principles such as trust, solidarity, preventive diplomacy, the central role of the UN Charter and national actions. The initiative proposes 12 ambitious and comprehensive solutions in different fields and aspects to respond to multi-faceted and intertwined challenges to global peace and security./.