Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of Vietnam’s permanent mission to the United Nations (Photo: VNA)

On behalf of ASEAN countries at the open debate of the UN Security Council in New York on Thursday, Quy said ASEAN nations affirm that national governments  have a leading responsibility in the protection of civilians during armed conflicts and that this task must be carried out in accordance with the UN Charter and with respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of the host countries. Countries in the bloc shared regional experience in preventive diplomacy and appealed for stronger cooperation between ASEAN and the UN in sharing experience  and training for participating in UN peacekeeping activities, he added.

Ambassador Quy affirmed Vietnam’s commitments to contribute to the international efforts, including the participation in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Vietnam attaches great importance to training on international humanitarian law and adopts a zero tolerance policy for sexual abuse in peacekeeping activities, he stressed.

The open debate, attended by UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres, saw the participation of nearly 80 UN member countries, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and various regional organisations.