Viet Nam

Mr. President,

Distinguished delegates,

At the outset, I would like to congratulate H.E. Dennis Francis on his election as President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly. I am confident that with his wealth of experience and excellent capability, he will help ensure the success of this session.

I also wish to voice my appreciation for the significant contributions of H.E. Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, and H.E. Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN.

Mr. President,

Distinguished delegates,

Having endured great sufferings, sacrifices and losses from wars, separation, embargo of the past century, Viet Nam understands better than anyone and appreciates profoundly the value of peace, cooperation, and development.

With perseverance and tireless efforts in the spirit of "putting the past behind, overcoming differences, harnessing similarities, and striving towards the future" to turn enemies into friends, confrontation into dialogue, and through contending and cooperating, turn adversaries into partners.

By doing that, Viet Nam is recognized by international friends as a model for post-war cooperation, recovery and reconciliation for the common development and prosperity of all parties concerned.

To this end, it would be remiss not to mention the three most important and decisive factors in international cooperation - trust, sincerity and solidarity.

Trust helps erase animosity and bridge differences, and is the prerequisite for solid, effective and substantive ties.

Sincerity brings sympathy, reinforces hope, trust and solidarity domestically, which makes up the strength of a State, a nation and all of its people.

Solidarity internationally enhances multilateralism and creates global strength.

This is also the spirit that we wish to underscore and promote at this year's session. Only by building upon trust, sincerity and solidarity around the world, strengthening of the UN's role and mobilizing the active participation of all states can we together address difficulties, overcome challenges, promote peace, cooperation and prosperity globally, regionally and nationally, and bring about happiness and sufficiency for all people.

Mr. President,

Distinguished delegates,

Over the past years, we have been facing tremendous hurdles. While peace and stability prevails at the macro level, hostilities, conflicts and tension remain at the micro one. In addition, arms races and increasing risks from weapons of mass destruction loom large. The consequences of COVID-19 continue to persist, while the global economy records slow and unequal recovery, with high inflation and growing risks.

At the same time, non-traditional security challenges, natural disasters, climate change, environmental issues, food, energy, water, and cyber security are evolving in a complex and unpredictable manner.

In addition, our world today is facing four critical crises.

First, there is the crisis of trust amid the most intense geopolitical tensions since the Cold War.

Second, there is the crisis of multilateral cooperation due to fragmentation and division.

Third, there is the crisis of legal principles reflected through the undermining of international law and the UN Charter in certain corners.

And fourth, there is the crisis of resources to respond to global issues, such as poverty eradication, education, health, humanitarian assistance, diseases, natural disasters, and climate change.

Against this backdrop, the critical question is: As leaders of the world, what do we need to do to help our respective nation and the world as a whole overcome current obstacles?

The answer, in my opinion, is: We need to jointly build trust, showcase sincerity, bolster solidarity, enhance bilateral and multilateral cooperation, effectively respond to global and whole-of-population challenges, promote sustainable development with the people as the centre, the actor, the goal, the driver and the resource for growth.

I am of the view that global challenges require global solutions. In addition, as these issues affect each and every person, we should adopt a whole-of-population, comprehensive and holistic approach.

In this spirit, I would like to outline five clusters of solutions as follows:

First, it is necessary to build upon sincerity, reinforce strategic trust and call upon countries to uphold responsibility as the basis for our efforts.

Sincerity and trust are fostered and bolstered through candid dialogue, on the basis of mutual respect, shared interests and joint efforts to address differences, as well as the prevention and containment of conflicts.

Responsibility is showcased through complying with international commitments, international law and the UN Charter. It is also reflected in the refrainment from the use of force, power politics, unilateralism, divisive and fragmenting actions.

In this regard, major powers play a crucial and pioneering role in building trust, promoting sincerity and upholding responsibility through stronger commitments and more comprehensive support for global development.

Second, a global solution is to enhance international solidarity and cooperation. Each country needs to place their interests in the broader picture of the international community's interests, and join hands to protect and promote multilateralism, and enhance the central role of the UN.

This can be achieved through new and more robust multilateral initiatives and actions, for the interests of all countries and peoples. It is also necessary to support the UN Secretary General's SDG Stimulus via vigorous, concrete, practical and effective commitments and actions.

Let us pursue unity instead of division, dialogue instead of confrontation, and cooperation instead of isolation and divergence.

Once again, Viet Nam affirms its solidarity with other countries, including Cuba, and urges the United States to put an end to its embargo against Cuba.

Third, a whole-of-population solution is to promote policies that identify the people as the centre, the goal, the actor, the driver, and the resource of sustainable development, while ensuring that no one is left behind.

Development can only be truly meaningful when it brings about practical benefits to each and every person, particularly in such prioritized areas as investment in promoting education, creating jobs, ensuring social security, providing healthcare, improving resilience and adaptation, and preventing natural disasters and diseases.

Fourth, it is necessary to implement holistic political, economic and social measures to ensure security and stability. We need to develop and transition into a green, digital, circular, sharing and smart economy, promote innovations and start-ups, reduce trade and investment barriers, facilitate market access and conclude more FTAs.

It is also necessary to expedite the reforms of international institutions, particularly financial and monetary ones, towards greater equity and equality for developing countries, and improve their capacity to effectively manage risks.

Fifth, we need to mobilize and effectively utilize resources, in which self-reliance, resilience, and the effective harnessing of our potentials and advantages are important factors underlying the success, prosperity and strength of each nation, region and the world at large.

Developing countries, particularly least developed countries, are currently most vulnerable to the severe consequences of climate change, natural disasters, and diseases. They need to receive substantive and effective assistance in terms of finance, technology, human resource development and governance of coordination.

Viet Nam supports the Summit of the Future process to bring about important changes via a new mindset, new modus operandi and new actions, with a view to helping multilateral institutions operate in a more synchronized and effective manner, and better respond to the needs and interests of all countries and peoples.

Mr. President, Distinguished delegates,

President Ho Chi Minh, the beloved great leader of Viet Nam's people, National liberation hero and Great man of culture once said: "A country is rooted in its people. Only when the root holds strong can the tree stand firm. We shall build the fort of victory on the foundation of our people's efforts" and "Solidarity, solidarity, great solidarity. Success, success, great success."

By building upon this philosophy, Viet Nam has recorded important and historic achievements after nearly 40 years of Doi Moi across the board, particularly in terms of socio-economic development and improvement of the people's living standards. The multidimensional poverty rate in Viet Nam has dropped to under 2%.

Viet Nam steadfastly pursues the consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of external relations, and remain a friend, a reliable partner, and an active, responsible member of the international community, for peace, cooperation, development, and prosperity of all countries worldwide.

Viet Nam will continue to be a reliable and responsible partner of the international community. Vietnamese men and women from the People's Army and Police forces have been participating in the UN peacekeeping missions, conveying a strong message of peace, friendship, cooperation and delopment.

We are also expediting energy transition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. In addition, Viet Nam maintain food security for a population of 100 million people, while striving to export around 7 million tons of rice this year, contributing to ensuring global food security.

[On this occasion, I would like to announce Viet Nam's National Commitment towards SDG transition.]

Mr. President,

Distinguished delegates,

From a region plagued with war and division, Southeast Asia has emerged as a region of solidarity, friendship and cooperation, and an epicentrum of growth. Moreover, ASEAN has affirmed its centrality in maintaining peace, security and prosperity in the region.

We wish to reaffirm our commitment to working with countries within and outside the region to safeguard peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea in accordance with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS.

It is also necessary to exercise restraint and refrain from unilateral actions, and address disputes and differences by peaceful means, including diplomatic and legal processes.

Mr. President,

Distinguished delegates,

The late Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld once referred to the UN as the new "Santa Maria" that can help us brave tempestuous storms and explore uncharted seas of peace, stability, cooperation, and development.

Thus, let us be responsible sailors, stand united, uphold trust and act in unison to "steady our helm" and take the "UN vessel" to new horizons of greater and more inclusive prosperity.

Thank you for your attention.