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Remarks by PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc at UNSC meeting on addressing climate-related risks to international peace, security

February 24, 2021 by en.vietnamplus.vn

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended and delivered remarks at an open debate of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on addressing climate-related risks to international peace and security, which was held in the form of video conferencing on February 23.

Following is the full text of the Prime Minister’s remarks.

Mr. President,

I applaud the initiative of the UK Government and yourself, Mr. President, to host this important UNSC open debate on “Addressing climate-related risks to international peace and security”. I would like to thank UN Secretary General António Guterres and Chair of the UN Youth Advisory Group Nisreen Elsaim for your insightful and substantive information and recommendations.
Mr. President,

Earth – our blue planet, and our shared home – is suffering from grievous impacts of climate change. 2020 was one of the three hottest years in modern history, and was faced with the constant and severe aftermaths of floods, droughts, bushfires, rising sea level, and the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak.

Such calamities have placed great burdens on the political and socio-economic life of many countries. They have caused unemployment and poverty, affected the livelihood of hundreds of millions of people, and risked creating instabilities or exacerbating present conflicts in many countries and regions, thus threatening international peace and security. In addition, conflicts and instabilities would further erode countries’ resilience, and rob them of valuable resources that could have been utilised to overcome the challenges of climate change.

Therefore, I propose that the UNSC, with its foremost mission being the maintenance of international peace and security, needs to galvanize collective and persevering efforts of the international community via the following measures:

First, a comprehensive and balanced approach is necessary in handling the connections between traditional and non-traditional security challenges, particularly in addressing the root causes of conflicts, such as poverty, inequality, power politics and unilateral interference and coercion. Strict adherence to the UN Charter and international law must truly become a standard of behaviour for countries in international relations.

Second, for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDG-2030), the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Paris Agreement (COP-21) to be effectively implemented, the UNSC and the international community should allocate greater resources to support developing countries, least developed countries, small island developing states, and land-locked countries that are most detrimentally affected by climate change, and are also lacking expertise and resources.

Third, I hope that the UNSC will continue to enhance its early warning capacity, and bolster its role in mediating, preventing and resolving conflicts in all regions, including through enhancing cooperation with regional organisations.

Fourth, in order to harmoniously manage the connection between climate change and security, it is necessary to continue upholding the principles of respect for the sovereignty, national ownership and principal responsibilities of states. The shared interests of communities and peoples, particularly vulnerable groups, must be placed at the heart of all national and global climate action strategies and plans.

Mr. President,

According to the World Bank, Vietnam is among the six countries most severely affected by climate change. Thus, active and effective response to climate change is both a major guideline and a strong political resolve by the Vietnamese Government. Vietnam has made great efforts to fulfil its international commitments on climate change (SDG-2030 and COP-21). In this connection, we support all endeavours to address climate-related challenges at the UNSC and other multilateral forums. I hope that the international community will provide Vietnam with further assistance and resources, so that we can better fulfil our commitments. Vietnam will work closely with other ASEAN members and support the cooperation between ASEAN and the UN.

Mr. President,

The world is burdened with the fight against COVID-19. Responding to the appeal of the UN Secretary General in “Making peace with nature is the defining task of the 21st century”, we should take bold actions and enhance international unity. I am confident that the “challenges” stemming from climate change can be transformed into “drivers” for change, contributing to fostering a future of peace and more sustainable development for next generations.

Thank you./.

VNA

Lockdowns in all 33 areas in HCMC lifted

February 24, 2021 by english.thesaigontimes.vn

Lockdowns in all 33 areas in HCMC lifted

The Saigon Times

A security guard handles tape used to lock down on the 15th floor of the Carillon Apartment Building’s Block F in Tan Binh District, HCMC. The lockdowns in all 33 areas in the city have been lifted – PHOTO: PLO

HCMC – The lockdown on the 15th floor of the Carillon Apartment Building’s Block F on Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Tan Binh District, the last location that was on lockdown in HCMC, was lifted on February 23. Thus, the lockdowns in all 33 areas in the city have been lifted.

Nguyen Khac Nguyen, chairman of Ward 13, Tan Binh District, where the apartment building is located, said the move was made after all residents on the 15th floor had tested negative for Covid-19, the local media reported.

Block F was blocked from February 9 as a Covid-19 patient, who is an employee of Vietnam Airlines, lives there. Three people living in the same apartment with the patient were placed under quarantine at the Cu Chi Field Hospital, 26 others who had indirect contact with the patient were quarantined at home and all residents of the apartment building had their samples taken for Covid-19 testing.

The city has passed 13 consecutive days without new local infections and has basically controlled the infection cluster at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

However, the situation in other parts of the country remains complicated. The risk of community transmission is still high in the city as there are big numbers of people traveling from other localities to the city after the Lunar New Year holiday, according to the municipal Center for Disease Control.

From February 16, the city asked those coming to the city to make health declarations and randomly tested those at the Mien Dong Coach Station, the Saigon Railway Station, the Tan Son Nhat International Airport and boarding houses. Those from coronavirus-hit areas in Haiphong, Hai Duong and Hung Yen have been quarantined and tested.

The city is treating 43 Covid-19 patients and quarantining nearly 1,400 people in centralized quarantine centers and 571 others at home. The municipal Department of Health has come up with three response plans to combat the pandemic. In the worst-case scenario, the city will have 500 patients and some 2,800 people who are suspected of being infected with the disease.

Schools in HCMC to be reopened on March 1

February 24, 2021 by english.thesaigontimes.vn

Schools in HCMC to be reopened on March 1

The Saigon Times

A security guard checks the body temperature of a student. Students in HCMC will return to school on March 1 – PHOTO: PLO

HCMC – More than 1.74 million students in HCMC will return to school from March 1 after a long break due to the resurgence of Covid-19.

The municipal government made the decision on February 24, asking the Department of Education and Training to coordinate with the Department of Health to instruct schools to take measures to ensure safety for students and teachers, the local media reported.

Schools must ask students and trainees returning to the city from Covid-19-hit areas or having visited these areas to make health declarations.

Those who deliberately make dishonest health declarations or fail to comply with quarantine regulations will be addressed in line with the law. In addition, the municipal government required schools to direct their students, teachers and employees to declare their health conditions online on a daily basis.

The HCMC government had earlier decided to allow students to stay home and study online after the Tet holiday.

On February 23, the municipal Department of Education and Training proposed the resumption of schools in the city from March 1.

As of February 19, the local education sector reported a student infected with Covid-19, 74 students and teachers having direct contact with Covid-19 patients, 361 students and teachers having indirect contact with patients and 2,680 students and teachers returning from Covid-19-stricken areas.

Meanwhile, the entire city has confirmed 210 Covid-19 cases, with 193 of them having recovered from the disease and 17 others being treated. In addition, the city is quarantining more than 1,300 people at centralized quarantine centers and 524 others at home.

Vietnam, Thailand agree to deepen enhanced strategic partnership

February 24, 2021 by en.nhandan.org.vn

Dung thanked the Thai government for facilitating flights bringing Vietnamese citizens home, and supporting those who are studying and living in Thailand.

He suggested Thailand limit trade barriers, exchange information about export-import regulations and procedures, and further support and closely cooperate with Vietnam in regional and international organisations and forums.

Thani congratulated Vietnam on the successful organisation of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and its outstanding performance of the ASEAN Chairmanship 2020.

Thailand attaches importance to and has worked to continuously consolidate and strengthen the fine bilateral friendship, the official said.

Vietnam has become a model in the COVID-19 combat worldwide, he said, stressing that Thailand will continue its close coordination with Vietnam in fighting the pandemic and reviving supply chains, as well as in the efforts to access safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.

Thailand also backs initiatives put forth by Vietnam in its capacity as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

The two sides agreed to deepening the enhanced strategic partnership between Vietnam and Thailand in an effective manner, increase the exchange of all-level visits, and maintain bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

Vietnam and Thailand will work together to organise activities celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, sign an action programme implementing the enhanced strategic partnership, and a cooperation agreement between the two foreign ministries for 2021-2025.

They have also targeted a balanced trade and set a goal of US$20 billion in bilateral trade revenue a year in the coming time.

The two countries will continue their close collaboration within sub-regional cooperation frameworks, and in building the ASEAN Community, and accelerating the ratification and implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.

Regarding the East Sea (South China Sea) issues, the officials shared the views that ASEAN needs to maintain its solidarity, common voice and centrality, while persistently pursuing agreed principles, and promoting the observance of international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).