Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrived in Hanoi in the morning of September 29, successfully wrapping up his working visit to attend the High-Level General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L)meets UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

In just one day, the PM had a busy working programme with 15 activities, including attending and delivering a speech at the general debate, holding bilateral meetings with the President of the UN General Assembly and the UN Secretary-General and top leaders of many countries.

He also had a dialogue with representatives from major US groups, and met US friends and representatives from the Vietnam Permanent Delegation to the UN and the Vietnamese community in New York.

Addressing the High-level General Debate themed “Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies,” PM Phuc affirmed that the UN has truly become a symbol of global solidarity, the embodiment of humanity and progress, and where people’s aspirations to strive for a world of peace, prosperity and equality are realised.

“It is our consistent policy to uphold the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of international law in the settlement of international disputes through peaceful means, including in the East Sea, which should be addressed on the basis of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the safeguard of maritime security and safety and freedom of navigation and over-flight,” he stated.

Emphasising that the world is facing new and immense obstacles, he noted power politics, the use or threat of force and the rise of unilateral measures still threaten global peace and stability, while injustice, inequality, climate change, pollution and poverty persist.

“No single nation can singlehandedly address the enormous global challenges,” he said, stressing that joint efforts and collaboration of all nations are needed.  

The international community should uphold “dual responsibility” in which each nation and individual should take additional responsibility for addressing global issues.

Laying stress on the important role of the UN in the creation of new foundations to address global challenges in an effective manner, PM Phuc suggested the UN to strengthen cooperation with regions, particularly the UN-ASEAN High-level Cooperation mechanism, highlighting the UN more within ASEAN, and ASEAN more within the UN.

As Vietnam has submitted its candidacy for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term, he thanked the 53 countries of the Asia-Pacific for endorsing Vietnam as the sole candidate of the region.

“Vietnam commits to being an active and responsible member of the international community and the United Nations”, he emphasised.

On the sidelines of the event, PM Phuc had separate meetings with President of the UN General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the Cuban Council of State and Council of Ministers Miguel Diaz-Canel, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Fijian President Jioji Konrote, and Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Allen Chastanet to discuss measures to boost Vietnam’s cooperation with the UN, and the five above-mentioned countries.

The Vietnamese leader also received Senior Managing Director of Harbinger Capital Phil Falcone, and Director of Warburg Pincus Timothy Geithner, and met representatives from more than 40 leading businesses of the US.

Calling for more US investments in Vietnam, PM Phuc affirmed that Vietnam always opens it doors to welcome foreign investors.

The PM’s trip is of significance, affirming Vietnam’s role and commitments to joining hands with other UN members to address global challenges, and conveying the country’s message of strengthening global partnership for a peaceful, equal and sustainably developing world for all people.-VNA