“Now, more than ever, there is a global demand for trained peacekeeping personnel,” said Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh in an address at the opening. International stability requires peace operations, and peace operations require well-trained, effective peacekeepers Vinh said, adding that the workshop demonstrates Vietnam’s commitment to support UN peacekeeping missions. GPOI provides the knowledge, wisdom, and technical expertise to train and make ready those personnel by uniting countries in the fight to establish peace and security, said Vinh.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius in turn echoed Vinh’s sentiments and said the workshop evidence’s Vietnam’s determination to join and assume a leading role in UN peacekeeping missions. Since its establishment, GPOI has worked with partner countries around the globe to build peacekeeping capacity including Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chile, Malaysia, Serbia, and Vietnam. In addition, GPOI has helped 30 partner countries to build their own capacity for training, through train-the-trainer activities, and has facilitated the deployment of more than 197,000 personnel to peace operations around the globe.
