OIF Summit stresses multilateral organisations’ role in global peace maintenance

Members of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), including Vietnam, affirmed the importance of multilateral organisations in maintaining global peace and stability at the 17th Francophonie Summit, held in Yerevan capital of Armenia, on October 11 and 12.

Talking to the press about the summit’s outcomes, Ambassador Duong Chi Dung, head of Vietnam’s permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva and assistant to the Vietnamese Foreign Minister, said the event attracted nearly 40 presidents and prime ministers from the OIF member countries and territories, along with representatives of the UN and many international and regional organisations.

Themed “Living together in solidarity, sharing humanistic values, and respect for diversity: a source of peace and prosperity in La Francophonie”, the summit highlighted the significance of international multilateral organisations, including the OIF, in enhancing mutual understanding, respecting diversity, and promoting cooperation to maintain peace and stability and resolve issues around the world and in the Francophone space.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (front, centre) at the 17th Francophonie Summit in Yerevan, Armenia.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (front, centre) at the 17th Francophonie Summit in Yerevan, Armenia.

Dung noted that it adopted many important documents, including the Yerevan Declaration, the Francophonie’s call for living together, and the Francophone cooperation strategy for 2019-2022. They will not only help deal with challenges facing the Francophone community but also set up orientations for the French-speaking community’s activities in the coming time, particularly assisting the member states and governments to realise the Sustainable Development Goals, respond to climate change, boost economic growth, and increase the use of French at multilateral forums.

He added the summit admitted Ireland, Malta, Gambia and the US state of Louisiana as observers, raising the number of OIF members and observers to 88, thus further affirming the OIF’s role as the world’s second biggest international organisation, after the UN.

The summit elected Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo as Secretary-General of the OIF for the 2019-2022 term.

Dung highlighted active contributions by the high-ranking delegation of Vietnam, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, to the summit.

The official noted Deputy PM Minh delivered an important speech, stressing that the world and the Francophone community are facing a number of challenges that no countries can singlehandedly resolve, so multilateral mechanisms like the OIF hold critical importance.

He asked the OIF to step up substantive cooperation, seek measures to deal with the root causes of crises and instability such as inequality, hunger, poverty, and underdevelopment, continue to reinforce existing mechanisms for conflict prevention, and handle disputes on the basis of international law.

The Vietnamese delegation also mentioned the Asia-Pacific’s situation, emphasising that the region is an important part of the Francophone space, and it now also has to cope with many challenges caused by the strategic competition of power countries, racial conflicts, terrorism, cyber security, and climate change, Ambassador Dung said.

Deputy PM Minh affirmed that Vietnam has always actively participated in and responsibly contributed to common efforts for the sake of peace, security and development of the world and the Francophone community. 

Vietnam called on involved parties, and showed its readiness to join relevant sides to peacefully resolve East Sea disputes in conformity with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It also asked the OIF members to continue supporting Vietnam’s efforts in this issue.

The Vietnamese side actively joined in the building of and promoted the adoption of documents with content matching the country’s policies and interests.

Dung said the documents issued at the summit called on the Francophone community to pay more attention to the complicated situation in the East Sea, urging parties concerned to peacefully handle disputes on the basis of international law, exercise self-restraint, not use or threaten to use force, ensure the security and safety of navigation and aviation, fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and make efforts to achieve an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the waters.

On the sidelines of the summit, Deputy PM Minh had bilateral meetings with heads of delegations of France, Canada, Armenia, Mali, Haiti, Andorra, Cameroon, Guinea, and Madagascar to strengthen Vietnam’s relations with the countries and call for their endorsement of its candidacy for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021.

At these meetings, the countries said they treasure ties with Vietnam and consider it a development model, especially for African nations. They hoped that Vietnam will continue acting as a bridge of the OIF in the Asia-Pacific and contribute to peace, stability and development in the Francophone community and the world. They also promised to consider supporting Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council, Ambassador Dung added.

VNA

Other News

National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

The NA's Committee for Cultural and Social Affairs has moved fast to reshuffle its organisation after the 14th National Party Congress and the election of deputies to the 16th NA, updating its work agenda to match new directives set out in the resolutions of the 14th National Party Congress and the first Congress of the NA Party Organisation for the 2025–2030 term.

Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

Vietnam and Croatia should strive to double bilateral trade turnover from the current level of 161 million USD; study the establishment of a Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation to create a long-term, stable, and effective framework for collaboration, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

President Ho Chi Minh's enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

President Ho Chi Minh's enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Jesús Faria expressed deep admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s indomitable struggle for national independence. He described President Ho Chi Minh as an immortal symbol of 20th-century national liberation movements, whose legacy continues to inspire leftist parties, progressive movements, and peoples across Latin America, including Venezuela.

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang shared Vietnam’s approach to building an independent and self-reliant economy linked to deep international integration, while proposing several key areas for enhanced cooperation between BRICS and partner countries at the Expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting that opened on May 14 in India.

Vietnam asks parties to respect its sovereignty over Truong Sa

Vietnam asks parties to respect its sovereignty over Truong Sa

PSNews - The spokesperson stated that the dispatch of personnel by relevant parties to features belonging to Truong Sa without Vietnam’s permission constitutes a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty under international law. She stressed that such actions run counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) as well as ongoing efforts by countries to negotiate a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Hanoi to host ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in mid-June

Hanoi to host ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in mid-June

PSNews - Vietnam’s proposals placed the highest priority on ensuring a peaceful and stable environment conducive for continued sustainable development and improving the well-being and happiness of the ASEAN people. They were praised by member states and incorporated into the core contents of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the response to the Middle East crisis.

Vietnam promotes cooperation with United Nations on crime prevention

Vietnam promotes cooperation with United Nations on crime prevention

Vietnam highly values the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in strengthening national capacity in crime prevention and criminal justice, drug control, and addressing emerging challenges, particularly cybercrime, said Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang.

Party, State leader calls for consolidation of central steering committees on legal, judicial reform

Party, State leader calls for consolidation of central steering committees on legal, judicial reform

Consolidating the central steering committees for institutional and legal reform and for judicial reform is necessary in order to streamline organisational structures without reducing responsibilities, while ensuring clear accountability, measurable outputs and concrete results. Following the restructuring, the body will be renamed the central steering committee for institutional improvement and law enforcement, with the Party General Secretary and State President serving as its head.

Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

At the meeting this week, Ambassador Viet briefed the UNGA President on developments during the first two weeks of the conference. He stressed that the current international geopolitical landscape poses numerous complex challenges, while reaffirming Vietnam’s determination, together with other member states, to promote substantive and balanced outcomes at the conference.

Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

The host leader stressed that cooperation between localities, particularly between the capitals of Hanoi and Vientiane, plays an especially important role as a pioneering force in effectively implementing the foreign polices of the two Parties and States, while also serving as a bridge between politics and development, as well as between strategy and concrete action.