As a responsible member of the international community, Vietnam will assign soldiers to join the peacekeeping forces of the United Nations (UN), Deputy Minister of National Defense, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh said. The official made the pledge during his recent visit, from June 26-29, to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and other UN agencies at the UN headquarters in New York City, the US. Vinh said Vietnam will create all necessary conditions for Vietnamese soldiers to join military medical, engineering and observation units of peacekeeping forces. Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations at the UN Edmon Mulet said at the reception for Deputy Minister Vinh that he welcomed Vietnam’s readiness to support the UN’s mission for peace. Mulet expressed his belief that Vietnam, a nation has made many sacrifices in its struggle for peace, will be able to contribute valuable knowledge and experience to UN forces when the country’s soldiers join them. Deputy Minister Vinh told Mulet that he highly appreciates UN’s positive assessment of Vietnam’s role in peacekeeping. Vinh is now the head of the Defense Ministry’s Steering Committee for Participation in UN Peacekeeping Missions.