Vietnam Reaffirms Human Rights Commitment, Highlights Digital Space's Role

Vietnam has reaffirmed its commitment to human rights protection as a member of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2026–2028 term. The nation views its digital space, boasting over 85 million internet users, more than 127 million active mobile subscriptions, and approximately 79 million social media accounts, not only as a major driver of the digital economy but also as a strategic domain for national defense, security, and the protection of human and civil rights. During the third meeting of the 14th Party Central Committee, Politburo member and Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation, Trinh Van Quyet, highlighted that hostile forces are increasingly using AI and digital platforms to wage cognitive warfare targeting the ideological foundation, public confidence, and internal unity. He stressed that this challenge requires continuous innovation in both methods and capabilities. Quyet emphasized the necessity of proactively gauging public sentiment, anticipating trends in public opinion, and addressing issues that could undermine public trust at an early stage, rather than merely handling information after an incident has occurred. In other words, the focus must shift from “managing information” to proactively “governing public trust”. This approach suggests Vietnam aims to build knowledge, trust, and credibility through authentic and culturally distinctive stories in digital-era communications. Recent diplomatic activities also underscore that Vietnam's foreign policy is being translated into concrete actions, reaffirming diplomacy as a "vital and regular" task alongside national defense and security. Furthermore, Vietnam places importance on collaboration with the business community, which plays a key role in driving economic growth, generating employment, and enhancing national competitiveness. At the first engagement between the new-term government members and the business community, the Prime Minister underscored the significance of the meeting. Vietnam aims to actively contribute to the UNHRC's activities and enhance the council's efficiency. This is seen as part of Vietnam's diplomatic strategy to coordinate with the international community and pursue domestic stability and development, even within its one-party system. Information source: VietnamPlus English