Ensuring security in East Sea- a precondition for development Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, Head of the Vietnam Mission to the UN underlined the need to ensure security in the East Sea as a prerequisite for development at the General Debate of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 70) on a roadmap for peace, security and respect for human rights. In her speech at the session on October 2, the Vietnamese diplomat said, “Since its establishment 70 years ago, the UN has actually become a center coordinating global efforts to address common challenges as positive contributions to peacekeeping mission, strengthened international security, further development, and human rights protection. The UN always uphold and promote the principles and objectives of the UN Charter,   particularly those regarding respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity   without the use of force or threat to use force, and peaceful settlement of international disputes.” Facing new challenges, the UN needs to continue playing a central role in dealing with global issues such as conflicts and disputes, nuclear disarmament, climate change, terrorism, violent extremism, poverty, social inequality to ensure sustainable development. To reach that goal, the UN, including its Security Council should continue going ahead with deeper reforms to operate in a more efficient, democratic and transparent manner. Vietnam welcomes the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and pledges its utmost effort to implement the program successfully. The nation takes people as centre stage, ensuring their common interests, respecting and guaranteeing human rights, Nga noted. The Ambassador also stressed the importance of the strong global partnership while urging developed countries to support developing nations in successfully carrying out sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially through financial assistance, technological transfer and human resources development. At the regional level, Nga said her nation is joining hands with countries in the region to build an ASEAN community towards the overall development. She stressed peace and stability in the region, while ensuring safety, security and maritime freedom in the East Sea is a prerequisite for development. Therefore, Vietnam  and other regional countries need to resolve disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon formulate a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). The general debate of the UNGA 70 taking place from September 28-October 30 was attended by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and a large number of leaders, representatives from different countries across the globe. Earlier on October 1, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga delivered a speech at a high-level meeting on maintaining peace and international security hosted by the chairman of the UN General Assembly in observance of the 70th anniversary of the UN. At the forum, participating nations presented nearly 50 reports on the international situation, threats to security and peace, lessons learned from the past 70 years and confirmed their new commitments to maintain international security and peace. VOV