Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Vietnam will host the eighth annual generalmeeting of the ASEAN Peacekeeping Centres Network (APCN) in August 2020.

The information was announced at the closing session of the seventh APCNmeeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on September 6.

Director of Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations Major General HoangKim Phung told Vietnam News Agency’s correspondents in Malaysia on thesidelines of the event that next year, Vietnam will play its role as the ASEANchair, and organise a wide range of important events such as ASEAN DefenceMinisters Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM Plus.

This will be the first time Vietnam assumes an important role relating topeacekeeping activities by hosting the eighth APCN meeting and chairing theAssociation of Asia-Pacific Peace Operations Training Centres (AAPTC), hestressed.

They show that the country is ready for international and regional missions. Theyare also a chance for the Vietnam People’s Army to promote the image of Vietnamas a responsible member in ASEAN and the UN, he said.

Vietnam has committed to proactively participating in the UN’s peacekeepingactivities, and enhancing collaboration to improve ASEAN’s peacekeepingcapability, he stressed, adding the country’s efforts have been acknowledged bythe UN and international friends.

The APCN is to enhance peacekeeping collaboration among defence and armed forceswithin ASEAN member states. It aims to set up a close coordination among thenations to facilitate experience and expertise sharing in the field, and helppeacekeeping centres in the countries enhance capacity as well as make goodpreparations for joining the UN’s peacekeeping operations, he said.

The seventh APCN meeting, which took place on September 2-6, drew theparticipation of 24 delegates from ASEAN member states and the ASEANSecretariat. The meeting focused on regional security architecture; women,peace and security; and building standard centres on gender equality trainingin security activities.-VNA