On July 17th, the
Deputy Prime
Minister chaired
an open discussion
on Children and
Armed Conflict (CAAC)
with the
participation of
UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon.

There are some
250,000-300,000
children in the
world currently
affected by armed
conflicts. The
issue was first
put forth in the
1990s and the UN
Secretary General
appointed an
ambassador on the
issue.
Vietnam is the
first Asian
country and second
country in the
world to sign the
UN Convention on
the Rights of the
Child and an
optional protocol
to that
convention.
Vietnam has always
stated that the
CAAC should be
discussed and
addressed at the
UN and the UNSC in
order to serve the
interests of
children and has
urged parties not
to politicalize
the issue.
Vietnam wants
to contribute to
fully and
effectively
implementing the
UN and UNSC
resolutions so as
to ensure the
rights and
interests of
children and make
a better world for
children.
On July 22nd,
Vietnam is also
expected to hold
an open discussion
on the current
situation in the
Middle East.
Besides the
meetings, Deputy
Prime Minister
Pham Gia Khiem
will hold
bilateral meetings
with
representatives
from a few
countries, the UN
Secretary General,
the UN General
Assembly President
and leaders from
UN agencies such
as the UN
Development
Program and the
Economic and
Social Council.
According to
the Foreign
Affairs Ministry,
the activities of
the Deputy Prime
Minister at the
UNSC demonstrate
Vietnam??™s concern
as it assumes the
UNSC presidency
this month.
VNA