Vietnam Strengthens Global Role, Set to Host OANA Meeting

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam met with Vietnamese experts and intellectuals in the US in New York on September 21 (local time), as part of his trip to attend the High-Level General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly and conduct bilateral activities. The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) will host the 59th Executive Board Meeting of the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) in Vietnam in 2027. VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang, also Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Publicity, made the announcement at the 58th OANA Executive Board Meeting in Moscow on September 20, hosted by Russia’s TASS News Agency. Vietnam's nearly half-century of active engagement in global peace, security, and development efforts, since officially joining the United Nations on September 20, 1977, has been highlighted. The country's participation in UN peacekeeping operations, in particular, has projected the image of a peace-loving and responsible nation. Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at the UN Development Programme (UNDP), stated that Vietnam's journey of transformation and its experience in balancing economic growth with social progress and environmental protection can offer valuable lessons for fostering trust and enhancing multilateralism. President To Lam’s trip to the US is of strategic significance, reaffirming Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence and self-reliance, and its growing role on the international stage. International scholars note that the visit will deepen the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and highlight Vietnam’s constructive contributions to global security and development challenges. Furthermore, General Secretary and President To Lam is scheduled for a state visit to Canada, at the invitation of Canadian Governor General Louise Arbour. The Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam expressed optimism that this visit will provide significant political momentum for bilateral relations. Economically, Vietnam has made a new step in its export operations with the first shipment of electric buses to Thailand by Kim Long Motor. Additionally, a significant number of Vietnamese businesses are showcasing their products at the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO). Domestically, the Mid-Autumn Festival is being celebrated in Hanoi's Old Quarter with themed events, preserving traditional culture. Source: VietnamPlus English