New York (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held talks with UnitedNations Secretary General Antonio Guterres in New York on May 30 (local time),during which the Vietnamese leader highlighted the ties with the globalorganisation.

Vietnam considers the ties with UN as a top priority in its foreign policy, thePM stressed, affirming as a responsible member of the UN, the country has madecontributions to the UN’s common work, including Vietnam’s fulfillment of itsterm as a member of the Human Right Council, assumption of the role as a memberof the Economic and Social Council and UNESCO executive board and candidacy forthe non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council for 2020-21.

He proposed the UN to increase its support for Vietnam in implementing the 2030Agenda on Sustainable Development, Paris agreement on climate change and Sendaiframework on disaster risk reduction.

Vietnam has decided to be among 10 leading countries carrying out the UNinitiative on El Nino and La Nina response, he said.

Secretary General Guterres highly valued Vietnam’s recent socio-economic achievements,especially millennium goals, hoping the Southeast Asian nation to succeed inimplementing sustainable development goals.

He acknowledged Vietnam’s contributions to UN mechanisms as well as participationin UN peacekeeping forces, while affirming the UN will promote cooperation withVietnam through the implementation of the one strategic plan for 2017-21.

Discussing regional and international issues, PM Phuc briefed Secretary GeneralGuterres on recent development in the East Sea and asked the UN chief tosupport and speed up the settlement of disputes in the waters by peacefulmeasures on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention onthe Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), full respect for diplomatic and legal process andearly finalisation of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The UN chief took note Vietnam’s proposals and emphasised the role ofpreventive diplomacy, settlement of disputes via peaceful measures based onrespecting international law.

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam-UN ties, Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc invited Secretary General Guterres to visit Vietnam this year.The UN chief thanked and hoped to visit the country in an appropriate time.

The same day, the PM attended the celebrations of the 40th anniversary ofVietnam’s UN membership in the presence of UN Secretary General Guterres, Presidentof the UN General Assembly Peter Thomson, UN senior officials, and ambassadorsand head of missions to the UN.

Addressing the event, the PM recalled the time when the Vietnamese flag wasraising at the UN headquarters 40 years ago, that marked the internationalcommunity’s recognition of Vietnam of independence, freedom and unification.

The Vietnamese people always keep in their mind on valuable support of the UNand international community in the post-war national reconstruction and development.

Vietnam attaches importance to cooperation with the UN, he affirmed, sayingthat in the current global situation, it is necessary to promote the UN’s role,especially in the maintenance of peace and security and settlement of conflictsand disputes on the basis of respecting the UN Charter and international law.

He affirmed Vietnam will increase its participation in peacekeeping operationsas well as its effort to realise the UN initiative on one plan in Vietnam to anew stage of development.

The PM took this opportunity to call for countries’ support for Vietnam’s bid forthe non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council for 2020-21, whilestressing the country’s commitment to making contributions to implementing the UN’snoble missions.

The UN Secretary General and UN General Assembly President congratulated Vietnam on its achievements over thepast four decades, and acknowledged the country’s contributions to the UN’s work.

Later the day, the PM and his entourage left New York for Washington.-VNA