Phnom Penh (VNA) – Vietnam’s hosting of the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, also called the Hanoi Convention, underscores its emergence as a neutral coordinator and “bridge nation” in global governance, reflecting the country’s growing political mettle as a middle power, according to a Cambodian analyst.
Talking with the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the signing ceremony scheduled for October 25–26 in Hanoi, Thong Mengdavid, a geopolitical and international affairs analyst at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy (IISPP) under the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), said the convention underscores Vietnam’s strong commitment to forging global legal frameworks and institutional mechanisms to combat cybercrime, a borderless challenge requiring multilateral cooperation and respect for international law.
He described the convention as strategically significant both legally and geopolitically, not only for Vietnam but also for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the broader global community.
The document, he added, holds particular importance for countries grappling with the rising tide of hi-tech and cyber-related crimes.
At its core, the convention focuses on law enforcement. A key aspect, he said, is enhancing global collaboration in investigating online fraud, sharing data and evidence, and strengthening cross-border prosecution and enforcement. It also provides a legal foundation for digital cooperation under the UN framework, helping refine global legal structures to counter terrorism, money laundering, and human trafficking.
Vietnam’s role as the host shows its ability to promote the use of international mechanisms, assert leadership in digital governance, enhance its legal and technological capabilities, and reinforce the increasingly extensive link between security and economic development. The hosting also reflects Vietnam's reputation as a country respecting international law and fostering global cooperation based on multilateralism, he added.
He noted that the Hanoi Convention is expected to bolster international support for Vietnam’s push to tighten cybersecurity legislation, improve digital data supervision, modernise its cybersecurity mechanisms, and reinforce the country’s legitimacy in combating online crimes.
For ASEAN, the document could drive regional harmonisation of cybercrime definitions, evidence sharing, and cross-border legal cooperation, Mengdavid opined.
Building on that momentum, the expert expressed his hope that Southeast Asian nations will use the upcoming Hanoi forum as a platform to establish regional framework standards and improve collective cybersecurity.
Such efforts, he added, will cement ASEAN’s central role in shaping digital norms across the Indo-Pacific, ramp up collaboration against hi-tech crime, foster investor confidence, and enable safer, stronger, and more reliable growth in cross-border e-commerce, fintech, and digital trade within the region./.
VNA
