Ms. Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam. (Source: UN)

What will be the UN Secretary-General’s priority during his time in Vietnam?

In the upcoming visit to Vietnam, at the invitation of the State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Secretary-General will take part in a ceremony to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Vietnam’s membership of the UN. The Secretary-General will meet with leaders of the Communist Party, the Government and the National Assembly, as well as other senior officials. The Secretary-General will also participate in a dialogue with the youth.

The focus of the Secretary-General’s visit is expected to be on climate action, as Vietnam seeks to translate commitments made at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) into action.

As one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, Vietnam is at the frontline of experiencing the devastating impacts of climate change, pollution, and environmental degradation.

At the COP26, Vietnam committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, phase out coal by 2040s, and other initiatives including ending deforestation and reducing methane gas emissions by 2030. With Vietnam also accelerating its move away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy, the UN has expressed support for Vietnam’s Just Energy Transition Partnership with the Group of Seven (G7) nations.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, at Headquarters in New York, on October 13. (Source: VNA)

What do you think about Vietnam's participation and contributions to the UN over the past 45 years?

Vietnam joined the UN in September 1977, two years after the end of the war in 1975.

Over the past 45 years, Vietnam has transformed from a country reliant on UN assistance, to one strongly contributing to regional and global agenda.

The UN provided support in the political, humanitarian, reconstruction and normative work during the early days of Vietnam’s membership to the UN. During the Đổi Mới (renewal) in the 1986-1995 period, the UN actively supported Vietnam by providing key economic advice and providing resources amounting to hundreds of millions of USD annually.

During the turn of the 21st century, the UN’s support to Vietnam focused on poverty reduction, social policies, aid coordination, state capacity building, and resource mobilization.

Since 2000, the UN shifted its technical assistance for Vietnam to legislative, economic and public administration reforms, as well as the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), many of which were achieved by Vietnam ahead of 2015.

Through the One Strategic Plan (OSP) of the Government of Vietnam and the UN in 2017-2021 and the new One Strategic Framework for Sustainable Development Cooperation between the UN and the Government of Vietnam for 2022-2026, the UN has continued to support Vietnam in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs.

Today, Vietnam plays an important regional and global role, including in peacekeeping, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term, and as the ASEAN Chair for 2020. Vietnam has demonstrated itself to be an increasingly active member of the international community, including its contributions to UN Peace Operations and to the UN Security Council's Women Peace and Security Agenda.

With Vietnam’s recent election to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, the UN looks forward to supporting Vietnam in its plans to translate its human rights commitments to actions. The UN welcomes Vietnam’s pledges to strengthen human rights in all its dimensions, prioritize gender equality, and better protect the rights of vulnerable groups, leaving no one behind.

Thank you!

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivered a statement at the high-level open debate of the UN Security Council on Climate Security on September 23,2021. (Source: VNA)