Participation in UNGA 81 reaffirms Viet Nam’s commitment to multilateralism

Speaking to the press in New York ahead of the visit, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the UN Do Hung Viet said UNGA 81 is taking place against the backdrop of profound global changes and increasingly complex challenges, including prolonged conflicts, climate change, natural disasters, pandemics and emerging issues associated with rapid scientific and technological advances, particularly artificial intelligence (AI).

Progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals remains slow, while development resources have declined significantly, he said.

Divergent interests, unilateral actions and developments that undermine international law have increased mistrust and eroded strategic trust, making dialogue and cooperation more difficult.

Given the situation, the need for international cooperation and the central role of the United Nations have become increasingly evident, Ambassador Do said.

No country, regardless of its size or strength, can address global challenges alone, he said, adding that the United Nations remains the largest multilateral forum where countries can maintain dialogue, seek common ground, establish frameworks for cooperation and take joint action in response to common challenges.

The theme of UNGA 81, "Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All," is therefore timely and relevant, the diplomat said.

The theme calls for renewed confidence in the UN and multilateralism, along with stronger commitments to dialogue, cooperation, respect for the fundamental principles of international law, mutual respect and joint efforts to address common challenges.

Regarding General Secretary and President To Lam's participation in the High-Level General Debate, Ambassador Do said it demonstrates the importance that the Party and State of Viet Nam attach to multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations.

It also reflects Viet Nam's consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, self-strengthening, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, as well as the diversification and multilateralization of external relations.

The visit takes place as Viet Nam is implementing the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, which identifies foreign affairs and international integration as key and regular tasks.

At UNGA 81, General Secretary and President To Lam is expected to deliver an important address highlighting the need to strengthen trust and enhance cooperation so that major global transformations can generate greater opportunities for peace, cooperation and development and contribute to a fairer and more humane international order.

In pursuit of its strategic development goals towards 2030 and 2045, Viet Nam is seeking to tap new growth drivers, including science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and high-quality human resources, while placing greater emphasis on human development, culture, social equity and environmental sustainability.

These priorities are closely aligned with major UN agendas, creating significant opportunities for Viet Nam to deepen cooperation, exchange experience and gain access to additional knowledge, technologies and development resources, Ambassador Do said.

At the same time, Viet Nam wishes to make increasingly substantive contributions to the work of the UN, share its experience and contribute responsibly to efforts to ensure that all people and nations can benefit from peace, cooperation and development.

According to Ambassador Do, this reflects the image of Viet Nam that the country wishes to continue presenting at the United Nations: an independent, self-reliant and peace-loving nation that is confidently entering a new stage of development, open to the world and ready to work with and contribute to the common efforts of the international community.

The diplomat also highlighted Viet Nam's growing role in multilateral diplomacy through its election to and assumption of responsibilities in various international bodies and mechanisms.

These include Viet Nam's presidency of the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the election of the first Vietnamese judge to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for the 2026–2035 term.

He also noted that the United Nations General Assembly's recent adoption of a resolution proclaiming 2027–2036 the International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development, with 103 countries co-sponsoring the initiative, demonstrates Viet Nam's efforts to translate its national priorities into contributions to the global development agenda.

A common feature of Viet Nam's recent multilateral initiatives is their close alignment with both the country's interests and strengths and the shared concerns of the international community, Ambassador Do said.

Through listening, dialogue and efforts to build common ground, Viet Nam aims to further enhance its contributions to global affairs while creating greater opportunities for international cooperation in support of national development./.