PM calls for southern countries’ stronger cooperation to cope with challenges

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 17 urged southern states to bolster cooperation in the spirit of solidarity and unity in diversity to together seize opportunities, overcome challenges, and head to a future of sustainable prosperity for all nations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh virtually attends the the third Voice of Global South Summit chaired by Indian PM Narendra Modi on August 17. (Photo: VNA)
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh virtually attends the the third Voice of Global South Summit chaired by Indian PM Narendra Modi on August 17. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 17 urged southern states to bolster cooperation in the spirit of solidarity and unity in diversity to together seize opportunities, overcome challenges, and head to a future of sustainable prosperity for all nations.

In his keynote virtually delivered at the third Voice of Global South Summit chaired by Indian PM Narendra Modi, the Vietnamese Government leader highlighted that the boom of the science technology and the fourth industrial revolution have basically changed the means of production, business and consumption, as well as the ways the world has operated and developed, and habits of the people globally.

Security challenges, particularly non-traditional ones like climate change, aging population, exhausted natural resources, and cyber security, have become more complicated, and left regular and direct impacts on the security and development of all nations, he stated.

Against the backdrop, he stressed that the southern states should have a joint vision, shared mindset and joint actions along with a global, comprehensive and inclusive approach. In that spirit, he suggested that the countries focus on promoting the reform process of the regional and global governance institutions in a more effective and substantive manner, with the key being reforming the UN for more democratic and effective operation, consolidating the multilateral trade system with the WTO at its centre, and minimising trade barrier and unfair competition.

He highlighted that it is necessary to mobilise and effectively use all social resources to successfully realise the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs). Countries should promote their pioneering role in ensuring food security, protecting the environment, preventing natural disasters, responding to climate change, and developing green, digital and circular economies on the basis of assuring equal and fair access, independence and self-reliance, he said, calling for more practical and effective support from the international community, especially countries with well-developed finance and technology.

PM Chinh also said that southern states should promote new motives for growth, particularly science technology, innovation and startup, seeing them as the key in all cooperation mechanisms and initiatives. He suggested they continue boosting south-south trade and investment, building south-south science-technology markets, and developing innovation eco-system that connects the state, education establishments, and enterprises.

The opening session of the summit with the overarching theme of “An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future” drew the participation of nearly 20 presidents, prime ministers and high-ranking leaders from developing countries.

In his opening remarks, PM Modi reaffirmed the significance and contributions of the summit to the G20’s agenda, and highlighted the importance of enhanced solidarity among the southern economies to promote global growth amidst complicated and uncertain trends and challenges in the world.

Participants at the summit spoke highly of India’s initiative to organise the event, creating a framework for developing countries to share their voice, stance, and measures to overcome global challenges. They affirmed their commitment to the global multilateral system and international law, and underscored the need to promote solidarity and international cooperation, accelerate the reform of multilateral organisations, and step up the implementation of the SDGs via enhancing financial resources and experience sharing, developing private economy, and strengthening technology cooperation.

This is the third time Vietnam has been invited to the summit, demonstrating its increasing role, position and prestige in the global multilateral mechanisms./.

VNA

See more

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, head of the Central Steering Committee for Prevention and Control of Corruption, Wastefulness, and Negative Phenomena, chairs a meeting of the committee's Standing Board on March 18, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

📝OP-ED: Controlling power, preventing corruption at roots

As the country enters a new development phase, the anti-corruption focus is shifting from strict punishment alone to prevention at the roots, while also protecting officials who dare to think innovatively and act decisively for the common good.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Ireland Pham Toan Thang (right) presents a souvenir to Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork Margaret McDonnell (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Ireland seek to expand all-around cooperation

Vietnamese Ambassador to Ireland Pham Toan Thang expressed hope that academic cooperation will continue to expand into areas where Vietnam has growing demand, including high-tech agriculture, biomedical technology, artificial intelligence and computer science.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam (L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi witness the exchange of cooperation documents between the two countries. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam-India relations enter new phase of development: Indian expert

The elevation of bilateral ties to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reflects the increasingly deep convergence of geopolitical, economic, maritime and civilisational interests between the two countries, former Indian Deputy National Security Adviser S.D. Pradhan told Vietnam News Agency correspondents in New Delhi.

At the meeting between Vietnam's Politburo member Nguyen Thanh Nghi and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka G. Weerasinghe and General Secretary of the Sri Lanka-Vietnam Solidarity Association Sudasinghe Sugathapala. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Party official meets leaders of Sri Lankan political parties

Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Politburo member, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for Policies and Strategies, held meetings in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on May 8 with leaders of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP - People's Liberation Front), the Communist Party of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka-Vietnam Solidarity Association.

Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Numan Kurtulmuş (R) receives Vietnamese Ambassador to Türkiye Dang Thi Thu Ha (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Türkiye strengthen parliamentary cooperation

Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Numan Kurtulmuş affirmed that Türkiye considers Vietnam an important partner in Southeast Asia, emphasising that similarities in historical depth, cultural identity, foreign policy orientations and family values provide a strong foundation for elevating bilateral ties to a new level.

Participants pose for a group photo at the ceremony in Hanoi on the evening of May 8,2026, to celebrate Europe Day (May 9). (Photo: VNA)

Europe Day 2026 marked in Hanoi

EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier reaffirmed the bloc's commitment to accompanying Vietnam in achieving its goals of becoming a developed economy by 2045 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, while ensuring energy security amid global uncertainties.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam (L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet the press to announce the outcomes of their talks. The two sides issued a joint statement on the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and India. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader’s visits opening new phase of deeper, more effective ties with India, Sri Lanka: FM

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung described the visits as particularly important and historic, taking place at a meaningful moment as Vietnam and India mark the 10th anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and just one month after the top leader of Vietnam assumed his new position. For Sri Lanka, this was the highest-level visit by a Vietnamese leader since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung attends the plenary session of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines. (Photo: VNA)

PM’s presence in ASEAN Summit spreads message of dynamic, strongly rising Vietnam: official

Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang said that the Vietnamese delegation made important contributions to the summit’s success, reflecting the foreign policy orientation set out by the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which continues to place ASEAN at the centre of Vietnam’s regional engagement, as well as its commitment to proactive, positive and responsible contributions to ASEAN Community-building process.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam reviews the honor guard. Photo: VNA

Vietnam’s top leader concludes successful state visit to Sri Lanka

Vietnam and Sri Lanka agreed to elevate political trust and comprehensively develop the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation as well as expand high-level and all-level exchanges and contacts, regularly implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms across various fields.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam (R) meets with Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo on the afternoon of May 8. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader meets with Sri Lankan PM in Colombo

The two leaders agreed that their countries will work together to turn the good intentions and aspirations for bilateral relations into tangible outcomes so that in the future, they could look back with pride on the achievements born from today’s determination.