VN urges Non-Aligned Movement to support peace efforts in SEA

Vice State President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh addresses the 18th Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan on October 25, 2019

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Thinh made the request while addressing the 18^th NAM Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, which drew the participation of leaders and representatives from 120 NAM member countries as well as representatives of international organizations.

She pointed out significant challenges faced by the member countries, especially competition between powers, unilateralism, and power politics among others.

Against that backdrop, the Vietnamese leader called for enhancing solidarity among the member countries so that the Movement could take the lead in promoting the rule of law and protecting the legitimate interests of the member countries.

Thinh affirmed Viet Nam has made tireless efforts throughout the process of building the ASEAN Community and strived for the goals of peace, stability and development.

However, ASEAN’s efforts have been seriously threatened by complicated developments in the East Sea, particularly the actions that have violated the Viet Nam’s sovereignty and sovereign rights over its waters as defined by the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Thinh emphasized.

She pledged that Viet Nam will always uphold the principles and goals of the Movement and stand ready to with the member countries to ensure the Movement’s solidarity and prompt and effective responses to challenges.

Established in 1961 at Belgrade Summit, the NAM is the second biggest organization after the United Nations, with 120 members and 17 observer countries.

The NAM coordinates and articulates its work, activities, positions and endeavors through a political body: its Coordinating Bureau, composed of the 120 Member States of the Movement and chaired by the seating Chair of the Movement, which is based at the headquarters of the United Nations, in New York, and that is entrusted also with the assessment of the work of the different Working Groups and Committees of the Movement.

The Movement takes its decisions by consensus, which enhances the unity and solidarity among the Member States of the Movement.  Such practice presupposes the understanding of and the respect for different points of view, including disagreement and implies mutual accommodation on the basis of which agreement can emerge by a sincere process of adjustment among member nations in the true spirit of non-alignment. ‘

Viet Nam officially joined the NAM in 1976./.

By Thuy Dung