One more Vietnamese officer taking on peacekeeping duties

Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, who is also Head of the MND's Steering Committee on Vietnam's Participation in U.N. Peacekeeping Operations, chaired the event.

According to the decision, Major Nguyen Van Phong, assistant at the Division of Political Affairs of Brigade 229 under the Engineering Corps, will work as a military observer at the U.N. Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

Assigning tasks to the officer, Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien asked him to promote the spirit of pro-activeness, self-reliance, overcoming difficulties, being flexible and creative; promptly integrate into the international environment and demonstrate his capability while observing military discipline, U.N. regulations and the host country's laws, and others.

According to Major General Hoang Kim Phung, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VNDPKO), Major Phong participated in various pre-deployment training sessions and he is now capable and ready to undertake the duties.

Also at the event, the ministry reviewed the performance of six peacekeepers who have completed their duties at the U.N. peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Abyei area.

Gen. Chien congratulated the officers on their excellent task implementation which received high appreciation from the U.N.,  and helped confirm Vietnamese peacekeepers' professionalism and competence. They helped spread the good images of the armed forces of Vietnam and shine images of Uncle Ho's soldiers among foreign colleagues and friends.

The deputy defense minister believed that returning to their units, they will continue to promote their ability and competence and contribute to the U.N. peacekeeping mission when opportunities come.

Among the six officers, four, including Lt. Col. Le Ngoc Minh, Major Nguyen Van Thu, Lt. Col. Vu Trong Quynh and Major Bui Xuan Duong performed duties at UNISFA. Senior Captain Vu Hong Hung worked at UNMISS and Major Trinh Van Cuong undertook peacekeeping duty at MINUSCA. Notably, Major Nguyen Van Thu was awarded a certificate of merit of the Director of Abyei Department of Education for his teaching at schools in Abyei.

Since 2014, Vietnam has sent 533 servicemen, including 529 military officers, and four public security officers to U.N. peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Abyei area, and U.N. headquarters in New York, the U.S.A.

Translated by Mai Huong