Vietnam's Top Leader Engages in Multilateral Diplomacy at UNGA

Vietnamese President To Lam, concurrently General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, has been actively engaged in multilateral diplomacy during the high-level General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. During his engagements, President To Lam expressed Vietnam's aspiration to develop its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the United States in a stable, substantive, effective, and sustainable manner, contributing positively to peace, stability, and development in the region and beyond. He also appreciated the US Department of War’s coordination in organizing an event on the “Vietnam Wartime Accounting Initiative” (VWAI), reflecting the US commitment to joining Vietnam’s “500-day campaign” to accelerate the search, collection, and identification of the remains of Vietnamese soldiers, underscoring the increasing value of responsibility in bilateral relations. Regarding relations with China, President To Lam noted the positive progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership in recent years, characterized by regular high-level exchanges and broader cooperation across fields. He highlighted increased attention to cultural, educational, and tourism exchanges, people-to-people interactions, and ties between localities. To bolster trade with Turkey, Vietnam aims to reach $4 billion in bilateral trade, with President To Lam calling for Turkey to recognize Vietnam's market economy status, open its markets, and reduce trade barriers. In discussions concerning Russia, Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Truong Thang emphasized that training cooperation has been a highlight of the bilateral relationship. Furthermore, the progress in the strategic partnership with South Africa was praised. Exchanges between the Vietnamese and Lao Parties were described as vivid evidence of their close and trusted ties, serving as a forum for sharing theoretical achievements and practical experience in political system development. On regional security, the Vietnamese delegation participated in Exercise Trident Resolve 2026, sharing experience in overseas search and rescue operations and learning from ASEAN member states and partner countries to enhance operational capacity. The fourth conference of procuracies of Vietnamese and Chinese border localities in Lang Son province facilitated the exchange of practical experience to maintain security and social order along the shared border. Domestically, the importance of revising the draft amended Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment was highlighted as a change in the model of marine governance. The government's proposal to institutionalize Party policies on tax incentives for domestic educational establishments was also mentioned, aiming to foster breakthroughs in education and training. President To Lam reiterated that Vietnam's foreign policy priorities are determined by national interests and development requirements, harmonized with peace, stability, and development in the region and the world. He also welcomed and valued all contributions from overseas Vietnamese, embodying the spirit of “shared national roots and compatriot solidarity”. Source: VietnamPlus English