The United Nations (UN) Security Council should expand its number of members and revamp its operation method soon to better cope with challenges to global peace and security, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said.

The Vietnamese government chief offered the suggestion while addressing a ceremony in Hanoi on Tuesday to welcome the UN’s 70th founding anniversary, according to the Vietnam Government Portal.

PM Dung also called on the intergovernmental organization to step up reforms in a comprehensive, balanced, transparent and equal fashion that ensure its member nations’ interests.

The UN should strengthen policies and resources to eliminate social unfairness and inequality, reduce poverty, narrow development gaps, beef up green economic growth, and lay a sustainable foundation for peace, security and development, the Vietnamese leader said.

He also urged UN agencies in Vietnam to update their operations to become the country’s development partners, instead of sponsors, so as to promote equal and effective cooperation.

Over the past seven decades, the UN, which was established on October 24, 1945, has continuously taken the lead in preventing and resolving conflicts, reducing war risks, maintaining peace and building a world that has attained numerous important achievements in peace-security, development and human rights, PM Dung said.

He also highly valued the UN’s valuable assistance to and effective cooperation with Vietnam in its national development and protection, adding that Vietnamese people sincerely thank the global body for its help in settling war consequences and the impacts of economic embargos.

The UN has greatly assisted the Southeast Asian country in improving its institutional capacity, administrative reform, poverty elimination, climate change response and sustainable development, the leader said.

The premier also said that Vietnam is willing to contribute to the UN’s activities around the globe.

Vietnam always regards its cooperation with the UN as a priority in its foreign policy, PM Dung underlined, adding that bilateral relations will be strengthened not only in development cooperation but also in peacekeeping, conflict settlement, security maintenance, poverty elimination, environmental protection and climate change response.

Speaking at the ceremony, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pratibha Mehta welcomed the country’s role and active participation in the UN for almost 40 years, especially as the Security Council President in 2008 and a member of the Human Rights Council in 2013.

Vietnam became a UN member on September 20, 1977.

She congratulated the Southeast Asian nation on its election as a member of the Economic and Social Council in the 2016-18 tenure as well as its socio-economic accomplishments and strong commitments to realizing the Millennium Development Goals. The United Nations is proud to have been a trusted partner of Vietnam for nearly 40 years, even before it became an official member, she added.

She affirmed that the UN system in Vietnam stands fully committed to supporting the country in its post-2015 journey to ensure inclusive, equitable and sustainable development.

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