Vietnam to contribute $1.3mn to int’l peacekeeping budget: Party chief

The meeting took place during the Vietnamese Party chief’s working trip to the U.S. from Sunday to Wednesday to attend the high-level general debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly and bilateral activities.

At the meeting, the UN leader recalled his youth participating in the movement against the war in Vietnam and expressed admiration for Vietnam’s transformation over the four decades of Doi moi (Renovation), calling the country a pillar of multilateralism.

He praised Vietnam’s active role in security, politics, sustainable development, and energy transition, as well as encouraged the nation to continue contributing to climate change efforts under the Just Energy Transition Partnership and promoting emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam highlighted Vietnam’s development achievements and said the country’s direction in the new period is to pursue sustainable development, with people’s quality of life, safety, and happiness serving as core measures.

Regarding cooperation with the UN, he said Vietnam had shifted from being an aid recipient to becoming a proactive UN member.

He reaffirmed support for the UN80 Initiative, which seeks to improve the effectiveness of the organization’s operations.

He said Vietnam will further deepen its participation in UN peacekeeping operations, provide free office space for UN agencies in Hanoi for the next 10 years, worth an estimated $3 million, and contribute nearly $1.3 million to the international peacekeeping budget.

Vietnam is also ready to host major international conferences and contribute to UN initiatives on global governance in science and technology, AI, green transition, and digital transformation.

In return, the top Vietnamese leader called on the UN to continue supporting Vietnam in digitalization, climate adaptation, and mobilizing resources for the Just Energy Transition Partnership.

Both sides agreed to implement the 2027-31 Strategic Cooperation Framework with UN agencies such as UNDP, UNICEF, and UNFPA.

They also agreed to strengthen ASEAN-UN cooperation, support ASEAN centrality, and maintain maritime security, safety, and freedom of navigation in the region based on international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

This was the third in-person meeting between Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and Guterres since their first meeting at the UN headquarters in New York in September 2024, and possibly the last before Guterres’s term ends in December this year.

His successor will take office on January 1 next year.

Also at the UN headquarters on Wednesday, General Phan Van Giang, Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, met Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations.

Giang expressed his hope that the UN would continue supporting Vietnam in expanding its participation in peacekeeping operations.

Lacroix said the UN supports Vietnam’s efforts and stands ready to help the country strengthen its capacity and make greater contributions to peacekeeping.

During his attendance at the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam met Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh on Tuesday.

Khurelsukh said Mongolia attaches importance to developing relations with Vietnam, regarding Vietnam as its ‘third neighbor’ and key partner in Southeast Asia.

The Vietnamese leader affirmed Vietnam’s readiness to deepen comprehensive cooperation with Mongolia, particularly in trade, investment, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people ties.

Both leaders welcomed recent progress in bilateral relations in culture, tourism, and education, as well as an agreement on visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic, official, and ordinary passports.

Direct air routes connecting Ulaanbaatar with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, and Nha Trang have also facilitated tourism, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

The two leaders agreed to continue close coordination and mutual support at international and regional forums, particularly the UN.