Hanoi (VNA) -  The Foreign Ministry, incoordination with the Hanoi People’s Committee, held a gathering on theoccasion of the Vietnamese traditional New Year for the diplomatic corps in thecapital city on January 14.

Addressing theevent, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said as he hadjust returned from the open debateof the UN Security Council, he noticed that peace, cooperation and developmentare still the major trend in the world despite unrest and tensions in someplaces.

According toMinh, multilateral institutions and international law are still respected, anddialogue instead of confrontation, and cooperation instead of struggle arestill the mainstream.

He said mankind continuesits course towards a better world of equality and sustainable development, of whichthe Asia-Pacific region and the ASEAN continue to be the bright spots withdynamic growth and leading in economic connectivity.

The Deputy PMstressed that the important achievements in socio-economic development,international integration and external relations have changed the picture in Vietnam,remarkably improved the quality of life for its people and further enhanced thecountry’s position on the international arena.

He expressedthanks to the Governments and people of countries and internationalorganisations for their valuable help and effective cooperation with Vietnam,along with the wish to continue to receive more support from them to intensify multifaceted,constructive and trustful cooperation.

Noting that Vietnam isserving as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Chair of the 41st General Assembly of ASEANInter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41) and a non-permanentmember of the UN Security Ccouncil in 2020, Deputy PM Minh said in order to fulfillthose heavy tasks, Vietnam will work together with friends and partners, withfocus on some major priorities such as further promoting the central role of theUN, upholding multilateralism and international law, promoting trade liberalizationand economic integration and connectivity, and contributingmore to the handling of regional and global challenges. Vietnam will alsostrive toward realizing the theme for the ASEAN Year 2020 “Cohesive and Responsive” while intensifying the process of building a united and strong ASEAN Communitythat will continue to play a central role and make important contribution topeace, security and development in the world.  

The head of theforeign diplomatic corps, Palestinian Ambassador Saadi Salama congratulated Vietnam over the achievements that it has made in 2019. Heexpressed his belief that with its resolve and capacity as well as the policyof peaceful diplomacy and constructive spirit, Vietnam will well perform theimportant roles as Chair of ASEAN 2020, Chair of AIPA 41 and a non-permanentmember of the UN Security Council.

The ambassadorsaid those roles also provide opportunities for Vietnam to contribute animportant voice to promoting adherence to the UN Charter and international lawand maintaining peace and security in the world.

Chairman of HanoiPeople’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung thanks the diplomatic corps for their friendshipand support for Hanoi. He expressed the wish to receive more cooperation andhelp of the diplomatic corps so that Hanoi will realize its goal of building a peaceful,green, civilized and moder capital city./.