Ha Noi (VNA) - "It is the time for Viet Nam to be a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council," Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Norio Hattori told Viet Nam News Agency reporters in a recent interview.
Ambassador Hattori's opinion is also a reaffirmation of a broader Asian desire that officially recommended Viet Nam as the continent's single candidate for a non-permanent seat on the Council for the 2008-2009 term on October 27, 2006.
Decision to support Viet Nam is based on the country's increasing prestige and position on the international arena. This was again affirmed by New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark to Vietnamese State President Nguyen Minh Triet during their talks in Wellington on September 11.
Apart from joining the United Nations (UN) in 1997, Viet Nam has been also active in other international and regional organisations like the Non-aligned Movement (NAM), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
According to the Philippine Ambassador to Viet Nam Laura Q. Del Rosario, Viet Nam's membership in ASEAN has helped build a more cohesive region. She also stressed that it would continue to play a key role in major decision-making and in promoting regional cooperation in a wide range of areas.
Regarding economic development, the country has maintained a high growth rate of more than 7 percent per year and officially became the 150th WTO member last January.
Viet Nam has also been is recognised by the international community with the fulfillment of the UN Millennium Development Goals in terms of poverty reduction, 10 years ahead of schedule and one of the eight first countries in the world to carry the pilot "One United Nations" Initiative at a national level.
"UN agencies have always pointed to Viet Nam as one of the best examples of good economic and social governance, human resources development and other positive indications," Indian Ambassador to Viet Nam Lal T. Muana commented.
Ambassador Muana said the time is right for Viet Nam to take its seat on the UN Security Council next year as it fits perfectly with the country's rising profile as one of the fastest growing economies in the Asia-Pacific region.
"The world hears a lot 'about' Viet Nam, it is time they hear 'from' Viet Nam," the Indian Ambassador emphasised, adding that "they need to see how the rising Asian star performs in the international arena."
Apart from reaffirming Philippine support, Ambassador Laura Q. Del Rosario expressed her confidence that " Viet Nam will be able to contribute more significantly to the fulfillment of the goals of the UN Security Council."
As scheduled, the UN General Assembly plans to vote for new non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for 2008-2009 term next month.
"We hope that not only in the Security Council but in all other UN agencies, Viet Nam should be more active in each of agencies and institutions of the UN," Ambassador Hattori said, adding that "being a member means Viet Nam bears responsibility, not only for herself, but also for all Asian countries which Viet Nam represents."--Enditem
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