Lao Dong Newspaper respectfully introduces the full text of the speech of General Secretary and President To Lam:
Ladies and gentlemen,
The world is undergoing profound shifts in international order with full of risks and uncertainty. The trend of using and threatening to use force, the arms race, especially the modernization of nuclear weapons and the development of new technology weapons, is increasing the risk of confrontation, miscalculation and conflict, even widespread war.
Meanwhile, the world economy is increasingly fragmented, with increasing barriers to trade, investment and technology. Supply chain disruptions and economic instability are narrowing development opportunities for many countries. Climate change, natural disasters, epidemics and new risks from technology continue to directly threaten people's lives, livelihoods and the development and stability of many countries.
The shift in power correlation and inequality in development are increasing pressure on international relations. Instability becomes more serious when unrestrained competition, unfulfilled commitments and selectively applied international law. Lack of trust further hinders cooperation efforts.
What is of concern is not only how the international order is changing, but where that change will lead the world. Change is inevitable, because it is the objective movement of history. But conflict and confrontation are not inevitable. From its history, Vietnam deeply understands the price of war, the value of independence and the power of reconciliation and cooperation.
Therefore, I believe that the theme of this Session on restoring trust, governance transformation and building a United Nations that benefits all reflects the urgent requirements of the times.
Ladies and gentlemen,
From the losses in World War II, humanity built the United Nations with the aspiration to prevent war, protect peace, promote cooperation and place relations between nations on the foundation of common principles. For more than eight decades, despite many limitations, the United Nations has contributed to maintaining dialogue, promoting decolonization, protecting the right to self-determination of nations and supporting development.
Those achievements need to be preserved and promoted. Institutions need to be innovated to keep up with the times; the basic principles of the Charter must be respected and strengthened. What we aim for is a fairer, more democratic and inclusive international order, in which every nation has a voice and every nation has the opportunity to develop.
The mission of our generation is to jointly orient and manage change so that competition does not become confrontation, differences do not lead to conflict, and scientific and technological progress does not create new divisions.
In that spirit, I want to share 4 major orientations as follows:
First, restore trust between nations on the basis of respecting the United Nations Charter and international law.
The United Nations Charter and international law are the foundation of the world order, must be fully respected, consistently and without screening. Every nation must respect the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right to choose the path of development of each other; not to interfere in internal affairs, not to threaten or use force contrary to the United Nations Charter.
Restoring trust does not require countries to eliminate differences, but to jointly manage differences responsibly. Crisis must be prevented. Competition must be controlled. Dialogue must be maintained. Commitments must be respected and fully implemented. Major countries need to take the lead in respecting international law, restraining and responsibly resolving common issues. The United Nations must play a central role in those efforts.
In all conflicts, civilians must be protected, international humanitarian law must be respected and access to relief must be guaranteed. Vietnam supports the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people and the two-state solution, with the independent State of Palestine coexisting peacefully with the State of Israel, in accordance with international law and relevant resolutions of the United Nations.
In Asia - Pacific, nearly 60 years of development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations - ASEAN shows that countries can turn suspicion into trust, turn confrontation into dialogue, turn division into cooperation, turn individual strength into collective strength.
In that spirit, Vietnam persistently resolves disputes, including the East Sea, by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; resolutely protects its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction. The sea and ocean must be a space of peace, cooperation, connectivity and sustainable development.
Also in the spirit of peace and the rights to development of nations, Vietnam is always united with the State and People of Cuba; calling on the United States to end unilateral encirclement, embargoes and energy blockades against Cuba, and at the same time remove Cuba from the list of countries financing terrorism; calling on the international community to support Cuba in overcoming the crisis caused by embargoes.
Second, promote fair, humane, inclusive and sustainable development.
International commitments need to be transformed into actions and bring a peaceful, safe, civilized and happy life to the people. Therefore, the Document for the Future and the 2030 Agenda - our promise to today's and future generations - needs to be seriously and fully implemented.
Financial commitments for development, including the Sevilla Commitment, need to be implemented with specific solutions: expanding access to long-term capital sources at appropriate costs, supporting debt-burdened countries and increasing the voice of developing countries in international financial and monetary institutions. The multilateral trade system needs to be strengthened in an open, fair and transparent manner, ensuring development opportunities for all nations.
Responding to climate change needs to be placed in a suitable position in development cooperation, especially finance for adaptation, technology transfer and equitable energy transition. Development must put people at the center, not leaving anyone behind. Growth must be linked to social progress and justice, protecting the environment and livelihoods of people, especially in vulnerable countries and communities. Global progress must ensure humanism in the behavior between countries, ensure legitimate interests and respect for historical, cultural differences and development conditions of countries.
Third, proactively shape technology governance to make progress to serve people and common development.
Science, technology, digital transformation and artificial intelligence are opening up unprecedented opportunities, but also posing new challenges. The future of technology does not necessarily guarantee fairness. Technological progress must contribute to narrowing the gap, expanding development opportunities, and not creating new forms of dependence or sources of conflict.
We need to build inclusive, safe, transparent and responsible governance principles and frameworks, ensuring technology serves people, respecting national sovereignty, digital sovereignty and development autonomy. Developing countries must be effectively involved in the process of building laws, supported in infrastructure, digital capacity and have equal access to the achievements of scientific and technological progress.
The organization of the Opening Ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi in 2025 expresses Vietnam's desire to make practical contributions to global digital cooperation. Vietnam is ready to work with partners to promote cooperation, improve capacity to prevent and combat cybercrime, so that people can live safely and benefit from technological advances.
Vietnam is also ready to support international initiatives on green transformation, digital transformation and building effective governance frameworks, so that science and technology truly become the driving force for common development.
Fourth, consolidate multilateralism and the central, irreplaceable role of the United Nations.
The strength of the United Nations is not in being able to replace the responsibilities of nations, but in its prestige and ability to build consensus, build norms and develop laws, and mobilize global efforts to jointly respond to common challenges.
To adapt the United Nations to the changes of the times, Vietnam supports efforts to reform the United Nations, especially the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the Secretariat, in the direction of enhancing efficiency, prioritizing structural reform, streamlining the apparatus, and at the same time promoting the organization's advantages in implementing global agendas, ensuring the interests of developing countries.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The things I just shared are also drawn from the experience of the Vietnamese nation itself.
The journey of nearly half a century of Vietnam accompanying the United Nations reflects the transformation of our country itself. From mainly receiving valuable support during the years of reconstruction and renovation, Vietnam today is increasingly proactively contributing to the common work, bringing Vietnam - United Nations relations to develop deeply and substantively. The officers and soldiers of the Vietnamese army and police today have been and are participating in peacekeeping operations, bringing the national aspiration for peace to places where peace is still fragile in the world.
The tradition of independence and self-reliance is the foundation for Vietnam to consolidate strategic autonomy and proactively integrate internationally. Towards the goal of becoming a developing country with modern industry, high average income by 2030 and a developed country with high income by 2045, Vietnam is establishing a new development model based on productivity, quality and added value; taking science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as driving forces; linking growth with cultural development, progress, social justice and environmental protection.
Autonomy also means proactively adapting and cooperating equally with the world. Therefore, Vietnam consistently adheres to an independent, self-reliant, self-strengthening, peaceful, friendly, cooperative and developing foreign policy; multilateralizing and diversifying foreign relations. Vietnam will persistently protect the United Nations Charter and international law, promote dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes, and participate more deeply in peacekeeping activities. Vietnam is joining hands to build a united, self-reliant and strong ASEAN, actively preparing to assume the role of APEC host in 2027, contributing to peace, cooperation and development of the region and the world.
In its capacity as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Vietnam emphasizes dialogue and cooperation to promote and protect human rights, ensuring that all people enjoy the fruits of development. Vietnam is ready to share experiences in poverty reduction, agricultural development and climate change adaptation, and expand cooperation with partners for the common good.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The world will continue to change. The direction of change depends on our choices and responsibilities today.
Vietnam chooses peace, cooperation and development; persistently strengthens the United Nations with other countries, respects international law and turns common commitments into practical benefits for the people.
Vietnam believes that with a strong United Nations, we will jointly build a more peaceful, fair, inclusive and better world for all. On that journey, Vietnam is always an active member, reliable partner and responsible nation, ready to contribute to the common efforts of the international community.
Thank you very much!
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(Title set by Lao Dong Newspaper)
