(BTA) On July 15th, the Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pham Gia Khiem, led a delegation to New York to take part in several activities and discussions at the United Nations Security Council.

On July 17th, the Deputy Prime Minister will chair an open discussion on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) with the expected 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.