Defence cooperation is a key pillar of the Vietnam – New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and the two sides have expanded their ties to a new field which is to provide support for UN peacekeeping forces.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien has affirmed that Vietnam is willing to help Laos improve its capacity for participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

An exchange programme was held in Hanoi on October 25 by the Ministry of Defence’s Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), along with the opening of a photo exhibition themed “Vietnamese female military personnel in United Nations peacekeeping operations”.

The year of 2023 has continued to witness Vietnam’s practical and effective contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations, helping to affirm the country’s image as a dynamic, active and responsible member of the international community.

The Vietnamese and Indian defence ministries launched a joint military exercise for United Nations peacekeeping operations called VINBAX 2023 in Hanoi on December 11.

The Ministry of National Defence held the first meeting of the Steering Committee for making a proposal on the building of a law on participation in the United Nations peacekeeping operations in Hanoi on June 9.

A workshop was held in Hanoi on May 22, providing guidelines for displaying the ASEAN Flag next to the National Flag at the compound of ASEAN Member State’s military units participating in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.

Minister of National Defence, General Phan Van Giang and his visiting Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh agreed on future cooperation orientations between the two ministries during their talks in Hanoi on June 8.

Vietnam is an important partner of Australia in the region, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Marise Payne said at a meeting with Minister of National Defence Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich in Hanoi on June 12.

Vietnam will step up defence cooperation in the United Nations peacekeeping operations in the coming time, stated Deputy Minister of Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh.

France is exchanging professional knowledge and experience in military engineering with Vietnam in the United Nations peacekeeping operations during a two-week programme, which commenced in Hanoi on June 25.

Deputy Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Thanh stated that Vietnam is ready to send police officers to United Nations peacekeeping operations.