Vietnam officially won the election to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2020-21 term, following a vote at the international body's headquarters on Friday evening (Vietnam time).

Vietnam won the seat with near unanimous approval, getting 192 votes out of the 193 member countries and territories of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Vietnam is the only candidate representing Asia-Pacific countries.

Such a dominant support shows that the Southeast Asian country’s active, substantive and responsible contributions to the UN, including the UNSC, for the past many years have been recognized by the international community, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Prior to Friday’s vote, many foreign diplomats expressed their belief that Vietnam will be able to fulfill its responsibility as a non-permanent member of the UNSC well if elected.

Talking to the media right after the election, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung appreciated the international community’s support and pledged that Vietnam will play a constructive and responsible role in this position at the UNSC.

This is the second time the country has been elected a non-permanent member of the UNSC, after the first time serving in this post in the 2008-09 term.

As one of the six major UN organs, the UNSC has 15 members, including five permanent and the remaining ten ones with two-year tenures. It is the only UN organ to have the right to assess threats to peace and propose or decide on measures to maintain or restore global peace and security.

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