The Vietnamese Head of State has underlined fostering respect for the fundamental principle of international law and the UN Charter in international relations as the determinant for peace and security.

This was also a precondition for every action of the international community, President Nguyen Minh Triet emphasised while addressing the 64 th United Nations General Assembly’s General Debate in the morning of September 26 ( Vietnam time).

Highlighting challenges facing the world that range from negative impacts of the global economic and financial crisis, food and energy security, and climate change, to escalating tension and conflict in many regions, proliferation of mass destructive weapons and international terrorism, Triet pointed to the fact that no single country alone could respond to the financial and economic “storm” and other global challenges.

The Vietnamese President pointed to the reality that nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament has been highlighted on the international agenda, reflected in the UN Security Council’s first summit dedicated to this topic.

He said Vietnam appreciated the UN and the UN Secretary-General for active contributions to stepping up discussions and directly supporting the deployment of specific measures to issues of international concern.

The President urged more active contributions of the UN to easing tension and peacefully resolving outstanding disputes and conflicts, including those related to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Iran .

He expressed hopes to soon see progress in negotiations for a long-term, equitable and comprehensive solution in the Middle East to ensure the rights of the Palestinian people and the legitimate interests of all parties concerned.

The President also voiced Vietnam ’s full support for the national reconciliation and reconstruction processes in Afghanistan and Iraq and strong condemnation of terrorist acts against civilians, President Triet noted.

He asserted the nation’s protest against the unilateral use of economic sanctions against developing countries and its support for the UN General Assembly resolutions on the necessity of immediately ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed against Cuba .

With respect to an effective and comprehensive response to the economic crisis, President Triet voiced that in the long term, the system of international economic relations must be reformed and it’s necessary to take into consideration development models that are suitable to each nation.

“It was imperative to promote the UN’s role in designing international strategies and mechanisms to address the energy and food crisis, pandemics and climate change,” he said.

Along with that, the UN needs to press ahead with its reform to enable it to meet new and complicated requirements, President Triet stressed.

He said “Vietnam is of the view that the UN reform should be conducted in all UN agencies, with Security Council reform conducted in such a way that broadened its representation and increased the democracy and transparency in its operational methodology.”

“Renewal of that mechanism should go hand in hand with renewal of content and due attention paid to balance among fields of activity of the UN,” the President said.

He affirmed that Vietnam would further contribute actively to the world’s peace, stability, cooperation and development, joining the UN and the international community’s efforts in promoting development programmes and addressing social issues and global challenges as well as in carrying out the “One UN” initiative.

Concluding his speech, President Triet said “only by standing shoulder to shoulder to enhance multilateral cooperation would the international community meet the expectations of the world’s peoples and set out the directions for long-term development of the UN.”

Later the same day, President Triet held separate meetings with the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon and former US President Bill Clinton.

In talks with the UN Secretary-General, President Triet said Vietnam highly valued the UN’s role and prestige, especially in keeping peace and fighting poverty.

He underscored the country’s support for the UN Secretary-General’s five-point disarmament initiative and its pledge to work closely with the UN in implementing the “One UN” initiative and dealing with global challenges.

The Vietnamese head of state invited the UN top leader to visit Vietnam in 2010, the time when Vietnam will assume the ASEAN Presidency and mark the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi. The UN Secretary-General accepted the invitation with pleasure.

The UN Secretary-General congratulated Vietnam for its assumption of the UN Security Council Presidency for the second time in October, saying that the Council’s first meeting on “Women, Peace and Security” was extremely important.

Ban Ki-moon also highlighted Vietnam ’s contributions in the capacity as the UNSC non-permanent member and said the country was a bright example in implementing the Millennium Development Goals.

In his meeting with the former US President, President Triet briefed Bill Clinton of the country’s major socio-economic developments along with measures to deal with the global economic and financial downturn.

He thanked former US President Bill Clinton for his contributions to increasing the Vietnam-US ties and for his Clinton Global Initiative’s assistance to HIV/AIDS fight and bomb clearance in Vietnam .

On this occasion, the Vietnamese President invited the former US President to Vietnam to attend activities to mark the 15 th anniversary of Vietnam-US diplomatic ties in 2010.

Late in the evening, President Triet met with staff of the Vietnamese permanent mission to the UN and representatives of the Vietnamese community in New York before heading to Cuba for a four-day official visit at the invitation of the President of the State Council and Ministers Council, Raul Castro Ruz./.