Viet Nam evolves from beneficiary to contributor in global cooperation: UN Resident Coordinator

In a recent with VGP, Tamesis emphasized that the theme "Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All" of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly is both timely and future-looking.

She noted that global challenges increasingly require multilateral solutions, citing artificial intelligence as an example of a transformation that brings enormous opportunities while also creating significant risks.

According to Tamesis, restoring trust in multilateralism requires more than reaffirming commitments: it requires multilateral solutions. International cooperation should contribute to preventing conflict, upholding international law and human rights, accelerating sustainable development and addressing climate change. At the same time, multilateral institutions need to adapt to rapid global changes and become more effective, coherent and responsive so that global commitments translate into tangible improvements in people's lives.

Viet Nam's strong commitment to multilateralism

Regarding the significance of General Secretary and President To Lam's attendance at the High-level General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly, Tamesis said the decision sends a clear message about the importance Viet Nam attaches to the United Nations and to multilateralism at a time when international cooperation is needed more than ever.

She recalled that during the celebration of Viet Nam's 81st National Day, the top leader affirmed Viet Nam's support for "an equal and fair multilateral system with the United Nations at its center."

He also expressed Viet Nam's readiness to serve as a bridge for cooperation and dialogue and make increasingly substantive contributions to addressing shared global challenges.

Tamesis described the statement as particularly meaningful in reflecting Viet Nam's development journey and its relationship with the United Nations. Over the decades, Viet Nam has transformed from a country emerging from war and isolation into an upper-middle-income country, a deeply integrated economy and an increasingly active contributor to regional and global affairs. International solidarity and cooperation, she noted, have been an important part of this journey.

Today, Viet Nam is increasingly moving from being a beneficiary of international cooperation to becoming an active contributor to global solutions, which is reflected in its participation in UN peacekeeping, engagement in multilateral institutions, commitments on sustainable development, climate action and AI governance, as well as its willingness to contribute to dialogue and consensus-building.

In this context, Tamesis said the visit is important not only for the Viet Nam–UN partnership but also as an opportunity for Viet Nam to bring its perspectives, experience and aspirations to the global conversation at a critical moment for multilateralism.

She emphasized that the partnership is increasingly a two-way relationship: the United Nations supports Viet Nam's development aspirations, while Viet Nam contributes its experience, leadership and solutions to the shared global agenda.

As Viet Nam enters a new era of development, she said the United Nations looks forward to a partnership that evolves accordingly—supporting Viet Nam's ambition to become a developed, high-income country by 2045 while enabling it to make greater contributions to peace, sustainable development and international cooperation.

Viet Nam's evolving role as a bridge-builder

Regarding Viet Nam's transformation from an aid recipient into an active international partner, Tamesis said she would frame it less as an assessment than as a recognition of how the country's engagement with the United Nations has evolved.

Viet Nam now brings to multilateral cooperation its own experience of transformation—from post-war reconstruction and poverty reduction to economic integration and sustainable development.

Increasingly, that experience is being shared beyond the country through its contributions to UN peacekeeping, engagement in the Human Rights Council and Security Council, and active participation across the UN development system.

This evolution gives particular value to Viet Nam's role as a bridge-builder, she said. At a time of growing geopolitical fragmentation, countries that can promote dialogue, build confidence and help identify common ground are increasingly important. Viet Nam's own experience demonstrates the value of peace, international cooperation and development as mutually reinforcing objectives.

Looking ahead, Tamesis said Viet Nam has an important opportunity to contribute even more—not only by participating in multilateral institutions but also by helping shape solutions, norms and standards that will define the common future. This includes areas in which Viet Nam itself is undergoing major transformation, including responsible digital transformation and AI governance, a just and inclusive energy transition, climate action and resilience, and development approaches that combine economic dynamism with social inclusion and environmental sustainability.

She also highlighted the vision behind the new UN–Viet Nam Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2027–2031, describing it as a more strategic, two-way partnership. The United Nations will continue bringing global knowledge, expertise and partnerships to support Viet Nam's development ambitions, while Viet Nam's experience, innovations and solutions can increasingly contribute to regional and global progress.

For Tamesis, this represents an important expression of Viet Nam's evolving role in multilateralism: not only benefiting from international cooperation, but increasingly helping shape it and ensuring that future transformations are inclusive, sustainable and work for everyone.

Partnership for resilient and inclusive development

On how the United Nations in Viet Nam will work with the Government to safeguard development gains and help put the SDGs back on track, the UN Coordinator said, the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2027–2031 serves as the strategic compact between the two sides.

With Viet Nam pursuing high-income status by 2045 and net-zero emissions by 2050, she stressed the importance of protecting development gains while strengthening resilience to climate and other shocks.

The UN's partnership will focus on resilient infrastructure and agri-food systems, stronger early-warning and anticipatory-action mechanisms, clean energy transition, inclusive human development and rights-based social protection.

The UN will also support digital inclusion and a digitally enabled economy, including safeguards for digital public infrastructure and the development of green skills, while exploring ways to strengthen domestic resource mobilization and blended finance.

Tamesis noted that extreme weather and climate shocks already cost Viet Nam an estimated 1–1.5 percent of GDP each year, underscoring the need for decisive action. She said the overarching goal is to help Viet Nam demonstrate that economic growth, social inclusion and climate ambition can advance together.

By strengthening resilience today, she concluded, Viet Nam can safeguard its development achievements while building a greener and more prosperous future for all./.