New York (VNA) – Vietnam and Indonesia stressed the need to address the root of security instability in Central Africa viacomprehensive and long-term measures at an online meeting of the United Nations Security Council(UNSC) on June 12.

Speaking on behalf of both nations at the event onthe region’s situation and the operation of the UNSC’s regional office (UNOCA), AmbassadorDang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese Mission to the UN, lauded efforts ofCentral African nations in ensuring security and stability in the region and inenhancing ties among neighbouring countries.

He expressed his concern over prolonged instability in theregion due to armed forces’ activities, illegal trade of natural resources,climate change, and impact of diseases, including the most recently COVID-19pandemic.

Quy stressed that measures to such matters need to includeincreasing collaboration and reconciliation, addressing challenges arisen fromarmed groups and transnational criminals, and facilitating regional countriesto access development opportunities.

He highlighted the importance of regionalcooperation and support from the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of CentralAfrican States (ECCAS) to ensure stability and growth for people in the region.

Many ASEAN member nations, including Vietnam and Indonesia,are proactively contributing to maintaining peace and international securityin Central Africa by sending their forces to join the UN’s peacekeeping missionin the region, he added.

At the meeting, François Louncény Fall, SpecialRepresentative and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for CentralAfrica, reviewed a series of problems occurring in the region, stressing thatthe key event to the region’s political situation is elections across eight out of11 regional nations in 2020 and 2021.

He acknowledged Central Africa’s significant efforts,particularly in pushing for the ECCAS’s institutional reform to reinforcecooperation and ensure peace and security in the region.

He called for the international community to step upcollaboration with and support for Central African nations to ensure securityand improve local humanitarian work.

Voicing concern over security challenges, socio-economicdifficulties, and problems in humanitarian work in the region, UNSC member nations affirmed the need to ensure a favorable environment for theelections and their commitment to collaboration with and assistance for regionalcountries.

The meeting marked the second time Vietnam and Indonesia –two ASEAN member states – had a joint speech as members of the UNSC. Their firstone took place at a video conference on EU-UN cooperation on internationalpeace and security held by the UNSC on May 29./.