Ministry of National Defence delegation meets the Global Programme against Money Laundering of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

As part of its visit and working programme in Vietnam, on the morning of 22 November 2024, the Global Programme against Money Laundering (GPML) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), led by Mr David Frend, Regional Adviser of GPML/UNODC, held a working session with a Ministry of National Defence delegation led by Senior Colonel Nguyen Dinh Hien, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Chemical Corps and Deputy Head of the Standing Office of Vietnam's National Focal Point for countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (Standing Office 81 – Chemical Corps/Ministry of National Defence). Also attending the session were representatives of the Military Security Protection Department and the Foreign Relations Department of the Ministry of National Defence.

Ministry of National Defence delegation meets the Global Programme against Money Laundering of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

At the session, Senior Colonel Nguyen Dinh Hien, Deputy Head of Standing Office 81, outlined the position, role, functions and tasks of Vietnam's National Focal Point and Standing Office 81 and some of their recent activities, as well as Vietnam's efforts to improve its legal framework on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in order to comply with United Nations Security Council resolutions and the provisions of the international treaties on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to which Vietnam is a party.

The Ministry of National Defence highly appreciated UNODC's role in countering money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing, especially its activities in Southeast Asia. Recently, through cooperation channels, officers of Standing Office 81 have directly participated in a number of activities organised by UNODC and gained valuable expertise and practical experience. The Ministry expressed the hope that Standing Office 81 and GPML/UNODC would launch broad and substantive cooperation activities in the coming period to enhance the effectiveness of efforts to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and proliferation financing in Vietnam.

The delegations at the working session

On behalf of GPML/UNODC, Mr David Frend commended Vietnam's efforts and achievements in countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and proliferation financing in recent times; presented the significance, role and projects of GPML/UNODC on countering money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing dedicated to Vietnam; and expressed readiness to support the expansion of cooperation on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction between UNODC and Vietnam.

The working session helped promote cooperation on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction between Standing Office 81 and UNODC, thereby affirming Vietnam's consistent position in implementing international treaties on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and demonstrating the standing and role of the National Focal Point and Standing Office 81 in the eyes of international partners.

Nguyen Van Vuong - Centre 81