UNGA 80 President hails Vietnam’s role, contributions

President Luong Cuong expressed strong support for the UN’s central role in global governance, coordinating and leading multilateral efforts, and proposing global solutions.

President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Annalena Baerbock (R) and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong at the meeting in New York on September 24 (Photo: VNA)
President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Annalena Baerbock (R) and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong at the meeting in New York on September 24 (Photo: VNA)

New York (VNA) – President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) Annalena Baerbock has appreciated Vietnam’s active and dynamic role, rising stature, and growing contributions in UN bodies and forums, including the General Assembly, especially in the context of many challenges facing the world and the UN.

She made the statement at her meeting on September 24 (New York time) with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, who is in New York to attend the High-Level General Debate of UNGA 80, and conduct bilateral meetings.

Baerbock warmly congratulated Vietnam on the 80th anniversary of its National Day, coinciding with the UN’s 80th anniversary, as well as on the country’s upcoming hosting of the signing ceremony for the UN Convention against Cybercrime at the end of October and its chairmanship of the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

She highly valued the President’s speech and key message at the UNGA on September 23, which demonstrated Vietnam's strong support for the UN in general and for this year’s session theme, "Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights", in particular.

Highlighting Vietnam’s initiative for the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness on December 27, adopted by the UN in 2020, the UNGA 80 President expressed her hope for the country’s continued support and active participation in the second High-level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response, to be held in 2026.

President Cuong emphasised Vietnam’s steadfast and consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of external relations, being an active and responsible member of the international community, and being committed to multilateralism and an international order based on international law.

He expressed strong support for the UN’s central role in global governance, coordinating and leading multilateral efforts, and proposing global solutions.

As the global situation remains complex with numerous difficulties and challenges, he expressed his belief that with the support of the vast majority of member states, the UN will stay true to its stated purposes and principles. He also stressed that the UNGA needs to promote stronger political will, consolidate international cooperation and solidarity, and uphold multilateralism and international law.

Affirming Vietnam’s readiness to further contribute to the UN’s collective work, the President shared with Baerbock the country’s preparations to host the signing ceremony for the UN Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi this October, and assume the chairmanship of the 11th Review Conference next year, as well as its candidacy for various other important UN bodies and positions. He called for the UNGA 80 President’s active support for Vietnam’s efforts.

He also highly valued Baerbock’s priorities and commitments, particularly regarding the staffing of the Office of the UNGA President, while calling for her continued attention, support, and facilitation for Vietnamese officials to work at the UN, including in the office.

At the meeting, both sides agreed to maintain close cooperation to jointly promote the shared priorities of Vietnam and the UN in the coming period./.

VNA

See more

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (right) meets with Fukuda Tomikazu, Governor of Japan’s Tochigi prefecture in Hanoi on December 16. (Photo: Courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Minister of Foreign Affairs receives Japan’s Tochigi Governor

Trung suggested that Tochigi continue to effectively implement signed agreements and further strengthen cooperation in areas that can create new development momentum for Vietnam, such as science and technology, digital transformation, innovation, and the training of high-quality human resources.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives Lao Minister of Education and Sports Thongsalith Mangnormek in Hanoi on December 16 (Photo: VNA)

PM suggests acceleration of Laos–Vietnam University establishment

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said the two sides should strengthen the teaching and learning of Vietnamese and Lao in both countries, including introducing Vietnamese as an optional foreign language in Lao schools, while continuing academic exchanges and programmes on tradition education to nurture the special bilateral relationship, he said.

Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand and the Cook Islands Phan Minh Giang (L) presents his credentials to Sir Tom Marsters, Representative of King Charles III to the Cook Islands (Photo: VNA)

Cook Islands attaches importance to ties with Vietnam

Sir Tom Marsters, Representative of King Charles III to the Cook Islands welcomed the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Cook Islands and Vietnam in April 2022, describing it as laying a long-term vision for friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Ministries and sectors are requested to pay special attention to promoting election publicity and legal education. - Illustrative image (baochinhphu.vn)

Government sets out coordinated plan for 2026 elections

The plan also aims to ensure that the elections are conducted in a democratic, equal and law-abiding manner, while being safe and cost-effective, truly becoming a nationwide civic event, thus contributing to strengthening and enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the state apparatus and building a socialist rule-of-law state of Vietnam of the people, by the people and for the people.

President Ho Chi Minh’s image featured on ballots at Communist Party of Uruguay congress (Photo: VNA)

Image of President Ho Chi Minh appears on ballots at Uruguay Communist Party congress

Among the ballots used at the congress were three featuring posters of President Ho Chi Minh and one bearing an image depicting the Vietnamese people engaged in production during the period of resistance against foreign aggression. The latter also carried the inscriptions “80th Anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day” and “33rd National Congress of the PCU".

Flowers are laid in memory of victims of the shooting on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on December 15, 2025. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Vietnam sends sympathy to Australia following Sydney shooting

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on December 15 sent a message of sympathy to his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese over a shooting that occurred on December 14 at Bondi beach in Sydney, New South Wales, resulting in multiple civilian casualties.

Party General Secretary To Lam and NA deputies are welcomed by locals in Hung Yen on December 15, 2025 (Photo: VNA)

Party leader meets with voters in Hung Yen province

Responding to Hung Yen voters’ recommendations, Party General Secretary To Lam affirmed the consistent principle of placing people at the centre, safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests, and ensuring that all policies and decisions serve the people.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung holds phone talks with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro on December 15. (Photo : VNA)

Vietnamese, Philippine foreign ministers hold phone talks

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and his Philippine counterpart Maria Theresa Lazaro agreed to continue promoting efforts to elevate bilateral ties to a new height, including stepping up high-level and all-level delegation exchanges across Party, State, National Assembly and people-to-people channels.

The NA Standing Committee's meeting on electoral affairs on December 15. (Photo: quochoi.vn)

NA Standing Committee discusses electoral affairs

The NA Standing Committee adopted a resolution on the first adjustment to the structure, composition, and number of candidates nominated for the 16th NA, and approved a plan to supervise and inspect the election.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man chairs the fourth meeting of the National Election Council on December 15, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Election preparations on track ahead of upcoming polls: NA Chairman

Highlighting key positive aspects of the preparation process so far, the top legislator pointed to the strong, coordinated engagement of agencies from the central to local levels, swift yet methodical progress, particularly in finalising documents, developing organisational plans and drafting resolutions on electoral units.