7/27/2019 Thayer Vietnam: Prime Minister Addresses UN General Assembly

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Background Brief

Vietnam: Prime MinisterAddresses UN General Assembly

Carlyle A. Thayer

September 30, 2013

[client name deleted]

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung delivered a speech at the 68th session of the UNGeneral Assembly in New York on September 27.

Here is the link to the speech:

http://news.chinhphu.vn/Home/PM-stresses-what-humanity-needs-at-UN-General-Debate/20139/19040.vgp

We would like your assessment of the speech and, in particular, what struck you assignificant as a Vietnam specialist.

ANSWER: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dungs address to the 68 th session of theUnited Nations General Assembly was another example of Vietnams emergence as aconstructive state in regional and global affairs. Prime Minister Dung brought withhim Vietnams experience as a victim of war, a su ccessful example of a developingcountry, and a non-permanent member of the Security Council.

Prime Ministers address was aimed contributing to the UNs Post -2015Development Agenda. His speech touched on three important issues for the future:conflict prevention and the maintenance of peace, the eradication of hunger andpoverty, and ensuring that the global environment will be healthy for futuregenerations.

Prime Minister Dung spoke on behalf of all Vietnamese who have experienced recent

war and the continuing legacy of war, such as Agent Orange and unexplodedordnance. This set the foundation for his argument that there were multiple causesof conflict that needed to be addressed.

Prime Minister Dung noted that power politics could contribute to conflict. In thiscontext he specifically mentioned territorial disputes in the East China and SouthChina Seas where just one single incident or ill -conceived act could trigger conflict,even war. He highlighted the importance of the South China Sea for wor ld tradeand reaffirmed Vietnams support for Declaration on Conduct of Parties and Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to reduce tensions giving rise to conflict.

Prime Minister Dung argued that the best solutions could be found under the UNCharter and international law. He argued that the role of the UN Security Council

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http://news.chinhphu.vn/Home/PM-stresses-what-humanity-needs-at-UN-General-Debate/20139/19040.vgphttp://news.chinhphu.vn/Home/PM-stresses-what-humanity-needs-at-UN-General-Debate/20139/19040.vgphttp://news.chinhphu.vn/Home/PM-stresses-what-humanity-needs-at-UN-General-Debate/20139/19040.vgphttp://news.chinhphu.vn/Home/PM-stresses-what-humanity-needs-at-UN-General-Debate/20139/19040.vgphttp://news.chinhphu.vn/Home/PM-stresses-what-humanity-needs-at-UN-General-Debate/20139/19040.vgp

7/27/2019 Thayer Vietnam: Prime Minister Addresses UN General Assembly

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needed to be promoted. And Prime Minister Dung re-introduced a theme hepopularized at this years Shangri -La Dialogue the need to build strategic trust.

Prime Minister Dung demonstrated his statesmanship by noting that Vietnamwanted to be a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international

community. Significantly, he pledged that Vietnam was ready to join UNpeacekeeping operations. And in Southeast Asia, Prime Minister Dung noted thatVietnam was working with other states to build the ASEAN Community.

In sum, no world leader is permitted unlimited time to address the UN GeneralAssembly. In the time allocated, Prime Minister identified a range of keyinternational and regional issues and practical measures to address them. Vietnam,which already has high prestige in the international community, further enhanced itsimage by the Prime Ministers address.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thaye r, Vietnam: Prime Minister Addresses UNGeneral Assembly , Thayer Consultancy Background Brief , September 30, 2013. Allbackground briefs are posted on Scribd.com (search for Thayer). To remove yourself from the mailing list type UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject heading and hit the Reply key.

Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues andother research support to selected clients. Thayer Consultancy was officiallyregistered as a small business in Australia in 2002.