The Ministry of Defense inaugurated the Vietnam Peacekeeping Center in Hanoi on May 27.
The opening ceremony was attended by Minister of Defence General Phung Quang Thanh, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, UN Under-Secretary General for Field Support, Ameerah Haq, ambassadors, and officials.
The ministry handed over military flags to Mac Duc Trong and Tran Nam Ngan, the first ever Vietnamese peacekeepers, who have left for South Sudan.
Thanh said Vietnam has actively prepared to send troops for UN peacekeeping tasks. The ministry has sent officers abroad for training in peacekeeping and nearly 200 officers and medical personnel are now equipped for it.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said the establishment of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Center and the deployment of two army personnel in South Sudan highlighted Vietnam’s contributions to UN peacekeeping activities.
Haq concurred with him saying these prove that Vietnam cooperates with the international community for peacekeeping.
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