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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh talks with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia, September 7. (Source: VNA) |
On the occasion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh leading the Vietnamese delegation to attend the High-Level Week of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from September 19-25, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the United Nations, shared the significance of the Session and Vietnam's messages.
Could you please tell us the significance of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) with the focus on the High-Level Week in the current international context?
The UN General Assembly High-Level Week, held every September in New York, USA, is the most important international event in international political life with the participation of many high-level leaders of member countries. This year's High-Level Week recorded a record number of High-Level Conferences with 9 Conferences and the participation of more than 150 Heads of State or Government. It can be said that the High-Level Week is the focus of multilateral diplomacy at the highest level and frequency of activities.
Notably, this year's General Assembly session takes place in a context where the world is increasingly fragmented and divided, geopolitical tensions are at their highest level in decades, and cooperation between countries is declining at a time when the world requires international unity and solidarity.
This year's Summit Week saw a record number of Summits with 9 Summits and the participation of more than 150 Heads of State or Government. It can be said that the Summit Week is the focus of multilateral diplomacy at the highest level and frequency of activities. |
Meanwhile, the world economic outlook remains uncertain, with most countries gradually recovering from the pandemic while facing many issues that need to be addressed, such as inflation, poverty, inequality and unemployment. Extreme weather events under the impact of climate change, such as floods, droughts, natural disasters, crop failures, etc., are occurring more frequently, affecting the livelihoods and lives of people across continents. If a common solution is not found in time, the world's achievements after decades of efforts may be reversed.
These issues are common challenges to world peace, security and development that clearly no single country can solve on its own. It can be said that after all the conflicts and competition in interests, the UN is still an important forum for countries to dialogue to promote the resolution of common issues of concern to the international community. Since its establishment, the UN has made great contributions to maintaining international peace and security as well as promoting international cooperation to create a more favorable and equitable international economic, trade and financial environment, and to propose programs and strategies to achieve common goals (including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Therefore, the President of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly has identified the overarching theme of this Session as “Rebuilding trust and promoting global solidarity: Strengthening action on the 2030 Agenda and the sustainable development goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all”.
This year's high-level week is expected to be an opportunity for countries to reaffirm international solidarity and commitment to multilateralism with the UN at its core, while sharing ideas and experiences, shaping long-term visions and strategies, and seeking cooperative solutions to address common challenges such as preventing and ending war and conflict, promoting sustainable development, and responding to climate change.
The discussions and decisions of this high-level event have had a lasting and far-reaching impact on international relations, global cooperation and the promotion of common goals. This year's outcomes have laid an important foundation for world cooperation in the new period.
Within the framework of the High-level Week, there will be many other important high-level conferences such as the Climate Action Summit, the SDGs Summit, the High-level Health Sessions... This is also an opportunity for leaders of countries to participate in hundreds of events, conduct contacts to discuss many important international and regional issues... Following the High-level Week, member countries will discuss specific international issues, with a rich and diverse agenda of over 180 topics, along with negotiations on many major processes in preparation for the Future Summit to take place in 2024.
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| Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the United Nations. |
Following the important achievements and results at multilateral forums, last year, Vietnam continued to promote its role and make many contributions to the common work of the United Nations, notably successfully assuming the position of Vice President of the 77th United Nations General Assembly. Could you please tell us about Vietnam's specific contributions in this position ?
The UN General Assembly is the only body of the United Nations with representatives from all 193 member countries, with the function of discussing all issues related to maintaining international peace and security, promoting international cooperation in the political field, developing and codifying international law, economics, society, education, health and implementing basic human rights and freedoms, reviewing and approving the United Nations budget...
As a broadly representative body of the United Nations, the role and activities of the UN General Assembly are increasingly strengthened, comprehensive and inclusive on most international issues, especially urgent issues expected by the international community.
It can be seen that the 77th session of the UN General Assembly has just handled and completed a huge amount of work with a work program that can be said to be the busiest in many years. On nearly 200 agenda items, the 77th session of the General Assembly passed 339 resolutions and decisions, while the number of meetings in 2022 increased by 66% compared to 2021 (according to UN statistics).
Taking on the position of Vice President of the UN General Assembly is both an honor and a great responsibility for us as we fully participate in the process of proposing and planning important world decisions in all aspects of world political and economic life. To do this, our guiding principle is to thoroughly grasp the purposes, objectives and principles of the UN Charter.
On that basis, as Vice President of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, Vietnam has successfully fulfilled its mission. We have participated extensively and contributed to promoting the General Assembly to adopt an agenda covering all aspects of international life, and fully participated in the process of proposing and planning important decisions for the world.
As Vice President of the UN General Assembly and a responsible member of the UN, wishing to contribute to the implementation of the foreign policy and Directive 25 on enhancing multilateral diplomacy, Vietnam, together with a number of countries, has proposed initiatives and solutions on many major issues of the UN such as promoting international law, oceans and maritime law, water security, responsibility to protect and prevent crimes against humanity, equal access to justice, preparation for high-level conferences in the field of health, reforming the activities of the UN General Assembly, and the UN Secretary-General's report on the organization's activities.
Notably, Vietnam chaired the UN General Assembly to discuss and adopt a Resolution requesting the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to provide an advisory opinion on the issue of climate change, resolutions on organizing a High-level Meeting on pandemic preparedness and response, universal health coverage, tuberculosis, promoting discussion contents at the UN Conference on Water, etc. Vietnam's proactive and active participation is aimed at making specific and substantive contributions to the common work and major priorities of the UN and the international community; contributing to promoting international cooperation and solidarity and strengthening multilateralism to effectively respond to increasingly fierce emerging global challenges.
In addition, Vietnam has also supported the President of the General Assembly to smoothly and effectively manage the common work of the UN, especially major high-level events and important sessions of the General Assembly, coordinating and leading the discussion and negotiation process to build documents and processes that provide long-term strategic orientation for the UN in the following years. Vietnam is the country trusted by the President of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly, and authorized to chair and direct many meetings of the General Assembly.
During the exchange, many countries, especially developing countries, appreciated our proactive proposal of initiatives and solutions to improve work efficiency, promote constructive dialogue to narrow differences, build consensus and a common voice among countries.
Through this process, we also take advantage of strengthening connections, deepening relations with the UN, many countries and partners, and accumulating valuable multilateral experiences to prepare for taking on important multilateral responsibilities in the coming time, such as the Presidency of the 91st UN General Assembly and the Security Council.
Following this result, for the first time, we have sent people to work for the Office of the President of the 78th General Assembly. This is an important step for Vietnam to further promote the policy of sending people to work at the UN and international organizations in the coming time.
Over the past seven years, Vietnam has implemented the National Action Program to implement the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs nationwide with the participation of all sectors in the spirit of “leaving no one behind”.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was launched in 2015 with 17 Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at eradicating poverty, achieving peace, prosperity and equal opportunity for all. Although all countries, UN agencies and other stakeholders have recognised the importance of implementing the Agenda, at the halfway point, all SDGs are behind schedule and at risk of not being achieved on time.
In that context, the SDG Summit held within the framework of the High-Level Week of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly this year is an important event to mobilize political will and strong commitment of high-level leaders of countries to bring the implementation of the 2030 Agenda back on track.
Over the past 7 years, Vietnam has implemented the National Action Program to implement the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs nationwide with the participation of all sectors in the spirit of “leaving no one behind”.
Vietnam has made remarkable progress, most notably in poverty eradication, ensuring clean water and sanitation, access to quality education, ensuring universal health coverage, job creation and social protection coverage, industrialization, innovation and infrastructure building, peace building, justice and institutional improvement.
Despite many difficulties in terms of resources, Vietnam will continue to make greater efforts in implementing the SDGs, increasing public and private investment and international cooperation. Notably, Vietnam strongly supports the Secretary-General’s call and will issue Vietnam’s National Commitment on SDGs transformation with priority given to transformation and investment in a number of important areas, contributing to the implementation of the principle of “leaving no one behind”. This demonstrates Vietnam’s active role and sense of responsibility and seriousness in implementing global commitments on sustainable development.
In fact, in recent times, the international community has always recognized and highly appreciated Vietnam's efforts and achievements in implementing the SDGs. In July 2023, within the framework of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the presentation of Vietnam's Voluntary Report on the implementation of the SDGs attracted great attention from the international community, in which it expressed its recognition of Vietnam's results in implementing the SDGs in recent times.
UN agencies have assessed Vietnam as a model in promoting sustainable development and hope that Vietnam can share its experiences and good practices with other countries in the implementation process. In that spirit, Vietnam is ready to continue to closely and effectively coordinate with countries and international organizations, contributing to the common effort to achieve the SDGs on time, continuing the results that Vietnam has achieved in implementing the previous Millennium Development Goals.
Ambassador, please tell us the message that Vietnam wants to convey when attending the UN General Assembly High-Level Week this time ?
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh leading the Vietnamese delegation to attend the High-Level Week of the 78th UN General Assembly, delivering a speech before the entire General Assembly and a number of important high-level multilateral conferences, along with many other activities, exchanges and contacts, is of special significance.
Through his participation in the 78th Session of the High-Level General Debate and other related activities, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will convey Vietnam's strong message to the international community about a peace-loving Vietnam, a responsible member, and a more active, proactive and effective participant in the common work of the UN in addressing global challenges.
The participation of the Vietnamese High-Level Leadership Delegation at major UN events this year demonstrates at the highest level the commitment of the Party, State and people of Vietnam to actively contribute to the common efforts of the international community to maintain international peace and security and sustainable development.
| Through his participation in the 78th Session of the High-Level General Debate and other related activities, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will convey Vietnam's strong message to the international community about a peace-loving Vietnam, a responsible member, and a more active, proactive and effective participant in the common work of the UN in addressing global challenges. |
Through these activities, we continue to contribute to the successful implementation of the tasks and foreign policy of the 13th Party Congress on diversifying and multilateralizing international relations, proactively and actively integrating comprehensively, deeply and effectively into the world, with the highest goal of maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, creating favorable conditions for the cause of national construction and development.
At the same time, we continue to affirm our role as a responsible member, proactively participating, making specific and substantial contributions to the common work and major priorities of the UN and the international community; sharing Vietnam's lessons, ideas and solutions, contributing to promoting international cooperation and solidarity and strengthening multilateralism to effectively respond to global challenges and increasingly fierce emerging non-traditional security issues. Specifically:
Firstly, affirming Vietnam's consistent philosophy and viewpoint of always taking people as the center, the driving force of all decisions, and this is also the guiding principle that the UN always strives to pursue. This is the premise for Vietnam to achieve great achievements in economic and social development, realizing the goal of a rich people, a strong country, a democratic, equitable and civilized society, and effectively implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. Vietnam is also contributing to the work and common goals of the UN in this direction.
Second, in the context of declining trust between countries and multilateral cooperation facing many challenges and obstacles, Vietnam calls for strengthening trust and enhancing international solidarity and responsibility.
For its part, Vietnam is actively participating and reaffirming its implementation of international commitments, ready to fulfill its obligations and responsibilities as a member state in all areas. Vietnam is continuing to proactively and expanding its participation in UN peacekeeping activities, contributing to conflict prevention and peace building in hotspots in Africa; actively transforming energy, striving to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); upholding international law, contributing to maintaining peace and stability, finding solutions to conflicts and disputes; currently serving as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, the International Law Commission for the 2023-2027 term, the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2021-2025 term, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Convention on Intangible Heritage for the 2022-2026 term, etc.
Third, we have also effectively promoted our participation, contributing to enhancing the role of the United Nations, building a global governance system based on law and commonly recognized international standards to ensure the maintenance of peace, creating conditions for sustainable and equitable development.
During that process, we also participated in many initiatives and solutions that were both related to the country's priorities and the common concerns of the UN and the international community, such as promoting the UN Resolution on the ICJ's advisory opinion on the obligations of countries towards climate change. Vietnam's mark and presence have become increasingly evident through its two terms as a member of the UN Security Council in 2008-2009 and 2020-2021; Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 and 2023-2025 terms, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 2016-2018 terms, participating in the executive mechanisms of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), twice serving as a member of the United Nations International Law Commission and most recently as Vice President of the 77th United Nations General Assembly, taking the lead in implementing development goals and reforming the UN system in Vietnam...
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' visit to Vietnam on the occasion of Vietnam's 45th accession to the UN in 2022 is a vivid demonstration of these results and the new height of the Vietnam-UN relationship.
Those achievements and marks are the basis for us to be proud and believe that Vietnam today is not only truly serious and ready to be a reliable, constructive and responsible partner of the international community, but also has sufficient professional capacity, resources and a team of multilateral officials capable of shouldering important responsibilities, worthy of the country's new position.
On this occasion, the Vietnamese delegation will also effectively utilize activities during the High-Level Week to further deepen bilateral relations, especially to elevate and create long-term intertwined interests in relations with major partners, including the United States.
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![[Photo] Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs Government Conference with localities on economic growth](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/2/21/f34583484f2643a2a2b72168a0d64baa)
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