Ha Noi (VNA) - Viet Nam is quietly confident that the full support of Asia-Pacific region for its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-09 term and the country’s impressive track record in international forums have laid the foundation for its first ever tenure on the world's most powerful security body.
Political analysts contend that due to its growing stature and prestige in the region, Viet Nam has been given the opportunity to represent 54 Asian-Pacific countries and territories.
In an interview with the Quan doi Nhan dan (People's Army) newspaper, Vietnamese Ambassador to the United Nations Le Luong Minh said "It's the trust that brings us such great support."
The trust has been build on a foreign policy that looks to bond with the international community like never before.
Viet Nam joined the United Nations just two short years after the country’s reunification.
It was quick to understand the importance of the global community, joining the Non-aligned Movement, and a further 33 international organisations and 19 international conventions. Diplomatic ties were also established with close to 40 countries and territories.
In 1986, the country embarked on an ambitious socio-economic renewal process. Since then, the Southeast Asian country's foreign policy has prioritised international supports for economic growth and integration into the global economy.
Following that path, the country joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in July 1995 and has been a vocal voice in the call for the building of an ASEAN Community.
It had also worked for the formation of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) forum, the initiative that aimed to bring the two continents closer in cooperation in investment, trade, science and technology, and human resource development.
Again in July 1995, Viet Nam normalised its ties with the US and established diplomatic ties with a host of other geographical heavyweights which kick-started a roadmap for equal and mutually-beneficial cooperative ties with the world's major eco-political centres.
So far, Viet Nam has established diplomatic ties with 167 countries and territories and economic relations with more than 100 partners.
In November 1998, Viet Nam joined the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and left its mark on the APEC cooperation process through the Ha Noi Action Progamme implementing the Busan roadmap towards the Bogor Goal that was adopted at the 14th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting held in Ha Noi in 2006.
Early this year, the Southeast Asian country again went big by winning the membership in the World Trade Organisation, the world's largest trade body.
Coupled with its economic successes, the country has made huge strides in areas that Viet Nam covets so highly, such as the fight against poverty, public health and education.
"Our traditional friends put faith in Viet Nam as a firm, principle-motivated companion while our counterparts, who at times differ with us politically, have applauded our open and constructive policies," said Ambassador Minh.
The UN General Assembly plans to vote for new non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for the 2008-09 term in October 2007.-Enditem
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