Vietnam’s ambassador also emphasizes the strategic relationship between the two countries.
Vietnam’s ambassador to India, Mr Pham Sanh Chau, said on Wednesday that Vietnam would continue to support India’s bid to become a permanent member at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). This came after Vietnam was unanimously elected to become a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the 2020-2021 term.
“We look forward to working closely with India,” Mr Pham said. “India and Vietnam share a special relationship – we are also comprehensive strategic partners.”
Mr Pham also expressed pleasure at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s successful bid for re-election last May, saying that under PM Modi, he believes relations between the two countries “will continue to grow.” Mr Pham emphasized a new direct flight from Kolkata to Hanoi in October 3rd, a new visa-on-arrival facility for Indian tourists in Vietnamese airports, and other efforts aimed at making India an education and health destination for Vietnamese nationals.
Earlier this month, Vietnam was elected to join the UNSC as a non-permanent member for the term 2020-2021. This would be its second time on the council (the first was in 2008-2009). Vietnamese officials said that for this term, Vietnam would focus on promoting multilateralism and compliance with international law, along with cooperation between the Council and regional organisations, post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding, and civilian protection during conflicts.
The UNSC is composed of five permanent members (the US, UK, France, Russia, and China) and ten non-permanent members, who serve two-year terms and whose seats are allocated by region. India along with Brazil, Germany and Japan are known as the G4, a group of countries that have grown in economic and political power in the past half century and are now demanding a seat at the table. India alone has the world’s second largest population and the seventh largest economy, while also being the third largest contributor to UN peacekeeping troops.
Reforms to the UNSC, including expanding permanent membership, have to be approved and ratified by two-thirds of all UN members, as well as all five permanent members of the UNSC.