- 36 minutes ago
The President of Vietnam, To Lam, addressed the need to place technological progress at the service of creating development opportunities rather than generating new forms of dependency and conflict in his speech at the 81st UNGA.
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00:00Hello, join us. We go live to the United Nations headquarters in New York, where the President of Vietnam, Thao
00:07Lam, is set to take the podium to address the United Nations member states and member representatives that are present
00:17at this very moment. Let's listen to statements.
00:19Ladies and gentlemen, the world is undergoing profound shift in the international order with many risks and uncertainties. The tendency
00:28towards the threat or use of force and the arms race, especially the modernization of nuclear weapons and the development
00:35of new technology weapons, are heightening the risk of confrontation, miscalculation, conflict, and even of large-scale wars.
00:44At the same time, the global economy is becoming increasingly fragmented amid mounting barriers to trade, investment, and technology. Supply
00:53chain disruptions and economic instability are narrowing development opportunities for many countries. Climate change, natural disasters, pandemics, and emerging technological
01:03risks continue to pose direct threats to the lives of the people and their livelihoods and to the development and
01:10stability of many nations.
01:11The shift in the balance of power and development inequalities are placing growing strains on international relations. Instability is further
01:20exacerbated when competition goes unchecked, commitments are left unfulfilled, and international law is applied selectively. An erosion of trust is
01:30further impeding efforts at cooperation.
01:33What should concern. What should concern is not only how the international order is changing, but where that change will
01:38take the world. Change is inevitable, for it is part of the objective course of history. However, conflict and confrontation
01:47are not inevitable.
01:48From our own history, Vietnam understands the cost of war, the value of independence, and the power of reconciliation and
01:56cooperation. It is therefore my belief that the theme of this session, restoring trust, managing transformation, an UN that delivers
02:04for all, aptly reflects the urgent demands of the term.
02:10From the losses of the second world war, humanity created the UN with the aspiration to prevent wars, safeguard peace,
02:18promote cooperation, and place relations among nations on the foundation of common principles.
02:23Over the past eight decades, despite its limitations, the UN has helped sustain dialogue, advance decolonization, uphold the right of
02:32peoples to self-determination, and support development.
02:35This must be preserved and carried forward. Our institutions must be reformed to keep pace with the terms, while fundamental
02:42principles of the UN Charter must be respected and reinforced.
02:46What we seek is a more equitable, democratic, and inclusive international order, where every country has a voice and every
02:53nation has the opportunity to develop.
02:55The mission of our generation is to help shape and manage change, so that competition does not turn into confrontation,
03:03differences do not lead to conflict, and advances in science and technology do not create new divides.
03:09In this spirit, I wish to put forward four key priorities. First, we must restore trust among nations on the
03:17basis of respect for the UN Charter and International Law.
03:20The UN Charter and International Law form the foundation for the international order. They must be respected fully, consistently, and
03:28without selectivity.
03:30All states must respect each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and right to choose their own path of development, refrain
03:40from interference in internal affairs and refrain from the threat or use of force inconsistent with the UN Charter.
03:46Restoring trust does not require countries to erase differences, but rather to manage such differences responsibly.
03:52Crisis must be prevented, competition must be kept under control, and dialogue must be sustained.
03:58Major powers should lead by example in respecting international law, exercising restraint and responsibly addressing common challenges, and the UN
04:06must remain at the heart of these efforts.
04:08In every conflict, civilians must be protected, international humanitarian law must be respected, and humanitarian access must be ensured.
04:17Vietnam supports the rise of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and the two-state solution with an independent State
04:24of Palestine living peacefully alongside the State of Israel, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions.
04:31In the Asia-Pacific, nearly six decades of the ASEAN's development have demonstrated that countries can transform suspicion into trust,
04:39confrontation into dialogue, division into cooperation, and individual strength into collective might.
04:45In that spirit, Vietnam remains steadfast in its commitment to resolving disputes, including those in the East Sea, by peaceful
04:53means in line with international law, particularly the 1982 UN CLOS.
04:57Vietnam is resolute in safeguarding its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.
05:02The seas and oceans must remain spaces of peace, cooperation, connectivity, and sustainable development.
05:10In this same spirit of peace and respect for people's rights to development, Vietnam has always stood in solidarity with
05:17the State and people of Cuba.
05:18We call upon the U.S. to end the unilateral embargoing and sanctions and the energy blockade against Cuba and
05:25remove Cuba from the list of State sponsors of terrorism.
05:28We also call upon the international community to support Cuba in overcoming the sanction-induced crisis.
05:34Second, we must advance development that is equitable, humane, inclusive, and sustainable.
05:42International commitments must be translated into action and bring people's lives of peace, security, dignity, and happiness.
05:49It is for this reason that the Pact for the Future and the 2030 Agenda, our promises to present and
05:54future generations, must be implemented earnestly and in full.
05:58Commitments on financing for development, including the SEVIA commitment, must be translated into concrete measures, expanding access to long-term
06:09financing at affordable cost, supporting countries burdened by debt, and amplifying the voice of developing countries in international financial and
06:19monetary institutions.
06:20The multilateral trading system must be strengthened in an open, equitable, and transparent manner, ensuring development opportunities for all countries.
06:28Climate action must be accorded its rightful place in development cooperation, particularly via adaptation finance, technology transfer, and a just
06:38energy transition.
06:38Development must be people-centered and leave no one behind. Growth must go hand-in-hand with social progress and
06:45equity, environmental protection, and the safeguarding of people's livelihoods, especially for vulnerable countries and communities.
06:53Global progress must uphold the spirit of humanity in relations among nations, safeguard their legitimate interests, and respect differences in
07:01history, culture, and development conditions.
07:03Third, we must proactively shape technology governance so that progress serves humanity in our common development.
07:11Science, technology, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence are opening up unprecedented opportunities, but they are also presenting new challenges.
07:21The future of technology does not automatically guarantee equitability, and technological progress must help narrow divides and expand development opportunities,
07:31rather than creating new forms of dependency or new sources of conflict.
07:35We need to develop inclusive, safe, transparent, and accountable principles and governance frameworks to ensure that technologies will be in
07:43service of the people while respecting national sovereignty, digital sovereignty, and the right to development.
07:49Developing countries must be able to participate substantively in rulemaking, receive support for infrastructure and digital capacity, and enjoy equitable
07:58access to the benefits of scientific and technological progress.
08:03Vietnam's hosting of the signing ceremony for the UN Convention against cyber crime in Hanoi last year reflects our desire
08:11to make substantive contributions to global digital cooperation.
08:14Vietnam stands ready to work with partners to strengthen cooperation and build capacity in preventing and combating cyber crime so
08:21that people may live safely and benefit from technological progress.
08:25We also stand ready to support international initiatives on green and digital transformation and the development of effective governance frameworks
08:34so that science and technology can truly become drivers of shared development.
08:39Fourth, we must strengthen multilateralism and the essential, indispensable role of the UN.
08:44The strength of the UN does not lie in its ability to replace the responsibilities of state but in its
08:50legitimacy and capacity to build consensus, establish norms,
08:54divided rules, and mobilize global efforts to address common challenges for the UN to adapt to the transformations of the
09:01time.
09:01Vietnam supports efforts to reform the organization, particularly the GA, the Security Council and the Secretariat, with a view to
09:10enhance an effectiveness prioritizing structural reform and streamlining the apparatus,
09:15while fully harnessing the UN's advantage in advancing global agendas and safeguarding the interests of developing countries.
09:23These perspectives are drawn from the experience of Vietnam itself.
09:27Over the past half-century, since its accession to the UN mirrors the transformation of our own country.
09:33From primarily a recipient of invaluable assistance during the years of Doi Mui, Vietnam today is making proactive contributions to
09:42our common endeavors,
09:43while deepening and broadening our substantive relations with the UN.
09:46Vietnamese military personnel and police officers have served and will continue to serve in UN peacekeeping operations,
09:54carrying our nation's aspiration for peace to places where peace remains fragile.
09:59Our tradition of independence and severance provides a foundation for Vietnam to strengthen its strategic autonomy and proactively pursue international
10:08integration,
10:09looking towards our goal of becoming a developing country with a modern industrial base and upper-middle income by 2030
10:16and a developed high-income country by 2045.
10:20Vietnam is establishing a new development model based on productivity, quality, and added value,
10:25with science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as key drivers with economic growth,
10:31closely linked to cultural development, social progress and equity, and environmental protection.
10:37Autonomy also means proactively adapting and cooperating with the world on an equal footing.
10:42Vietnam therefore pursues a consistent foreign policy of independence, autonomy, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development,
10:49and of multilateralization and diversification of external relations.
10:53Vietnam will remain steadfast in upholding the UN Charter and International Law,
10:58promoting dialogue on the peaceful settlement of disputes and deepening its participation in UN peacekeeping missions.
11:04Vietnam is working with fellow ASEAN member states to build an united, self-reliant and resilient ASEAN
11:10and actively preparing to host APEC in 2027.
11:13And as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, Vietnam champions dialogue and cooperation in promoting and protecting human
11:19rights
11:20and in ensuring that all can share the fruits of development.
11:23We stand ready to share our experience in poverty reduction, agricultural development and climate change adaptation,
11:29and work with partners to broaden cooperation for common interests.
11:32The world will continue to change.
11:35The direction for such change will depend on the choices we make and the responsibilities we shoulder today.
11:42Vietnam chooses peace, cooperation and development.
11:45We will work steadfastly with all countries to strengthen the UN, uphold international law,
11:50and translate our shared commitments into tangible benefits for our people.
11:54We believe that with a strong UN, together we can build a more peaceful, equitable, inclusive and better world for
12:05all.
12:06And on this journey, Vietnam will remain an active member, a reliable partner, and a responsible nation,
12:15always standing ready to contribute to the common endeavours of the international community.
12:20Thank you very much.
12:30On behalf of the Assembly...
12:32We're listening at this moment to the statement of President, the President of Vietnam, Tho Lam,
12:39he was condemning the large-scale wars, the development as well of the military industry.
12:46He also was rejecting that the global economy is already fragmented and also stood for the people of Palestine.
12:53He urged the end of the genocide being perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people in Gaza,
12:59and also stood for the people of Cuba and for the government of Cuba in its legitimate demand for the
13:05lifting of the US economic financial blockade imposed on the island as well.
13:11Also, he reassured Vietnam's commitment to resolving disputes worldwide.
13:19Those were the statements of the Vietnamese President, Tho Lam, at this hour at the 81st session of the United
13:24Nations General Assembly.
13:25So stay tuned with Telesuit English for more updates on everything that is happening in New York City throughout this
13:31week.
13:32Aloha.
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