Vietnam's Top Leader Addresses UN General Assembly, Advocates Peace and Cooperation

Vietnamese President and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam delivered a significant address at the high-level general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 22 (local time), emphasizing Vietnam's commitment to peace, cooperation, and development. President Lam stressed Vietnam's resolve to work with other countries to strengthen the UN, uphold international law, and translate commitments into tangible benefits for the people, aiming to build a peaceful, equitable, inclusive, and better world for all. This participation underscores Vietnam's role as a responsible member of the international community. Regarding bilateral relations, President Lam affirmed Vietnam's view of the US as one of its most strategically important partners, expressing a desire to work together to ensure their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership develops in a stable, substantive, effective, and sustainable manner. He also noted positive progress in the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, with regular high-level exchanges and broader cooperation. Furthermore, discussions were held to strengthen cooperation with Russia, particularly in training. In development cooperation, Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan and heads of the UNDP, UNICEF, and UNFPA exchanged Country Programme Documents (CPDs) for the 2027–2031 period. This signifies Vietnam's intent to deepen collaboration with international organizations on development agendas and enhance efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Domestically, a draft law aims to institutionalize Party policies on tax incentives for educational establishments, contributing to breakthroughs in education and training development under Resolution No. 10. In infrastructure development, key transport projects had disbursed 38% of their allocated capital by the end of August, falling below the national rate, highlighting the need for accelerated infrastructure development to support economic growth. President Lam's engagements also included meetings with leaders from Timor-Leste, Switzerland, and Finland, proposing cooperation in areas such as agriculture, fisheries, renewable energy, and climate change adaptation. His attendance at the UNGA, a review meeting of key transport projects, and Vietnam's participation in Exercise Trident Resolve 2026 were among the news highlights. The UNGA 81 high-level General Debate runs from September 22 to 28, serving as a crucial forum for world leaders to share visions and seek solutions to pressing global issues. Gen. Nguyen Trong Nghia, Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA), held talks with Maj. Gen. Leonid Kasinsky, Chief of the Main Ideological Directorate of Belarus’ Defence Ministry, in Belarus on September 22. Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Truong Thang emphasized that training cooperation with Russia has been a highlight, during a reception for Sen. Lt. Gen. Vladimir Borisovich Zarudnitsky, Director of the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia. At Exercise Trident Resolve 2026, the Vietnamese delegation shared experience from overseas search and rescue operations, while learning from ASEAN member states and partner countries to further enhance its capacity to conduct such operations when required. During a working session between HCMA Director Doan Minh Huan and President of the Korea Institute of Public Administration (KIPA) Kwon Huck-ju on September 22, the two sides reviewed cooperation since signing an MoU in 2016, including their coordination with the World Bank (WB) in developing criteria for evaluating government effectiveness in 2017. South African Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenneth Morolong praised the progress in bilateral ties, particularly since the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Strategic Partnership.