New York (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister PhamBinh Minh highlighted Vietnam’s active and proactive international integrationat the General Debate of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assemblyin New York on September 22.

He stressed the role of Vietnam as the host of Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation (APEC) Year 2017 and a member of the UN Human Rights Council for 2014-2016and the UN Economic and Social Council for 2016-2018.

Vietnam is now running for a non-permanent member of the UN Security Councilfor the 2020-2021 tenure, actively implementing the 2030 Agenda for SustainableDevelopment and the Paris Agreement on climate change, as well as engaging inUN peacekeeping missions, he noted.

At the debate, themed “Focusing on people: Striving for Peace and a Decent Lifefor All on a Sustainable Planet”, the Vietnamese official stated thatmaintaining peace is always a top priority, requiring countries to work togetherto promote multilateralism.

In this process, the UN should serve as a coordinator that connects jointefforts to deal with global challenges based on a system of more comprehensiveregulations and standards, he said.

He suggested countries place people’s interests at the centre of all policiesand actions in order to successfully realise the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Developmentand ensure a decent life for all on the globe.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Deputy PM Minh called on all parties concerned toexercise restraint and solve disputes by peaceful measures in line withinternational law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

They must fully respect diplomatic and legal processes on the basis ofinternational law, seriously implement the Declaration on Conduct of Parties inthe East Sea (DOC) and work towards an effective and legally binding Code ofConduct (COC), he stressed.

The same day, at the UN headquarters, Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh, authorised by PresidentTran Dai Quang, signed the Treaty of the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Thesigning reflects Vietnam’s consistent policy for peace and its support for the disarmamentof nuclear weapons all over the world.

On the sidelines of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly, theVietnamese official met with the foreign ministers of Hungary and Saudi Arabia andthe managing director of the World Economic Forum.

He also received representatives of some major US groups and corporations suchas Boeing, ExxonMobile, Uber, AES, MetLife and Pfizer. The US businesses spokehighly of Vietnam’s determination to boost comprehensive economic reform,improve business climate and provide optimal conditions for foreign investors,including those from the US.-VNA