UN Secretary-General António Guterres said “Vietnam is always in my heart,” recalling his youth when he took part in protests against the Vietnam War.
On the evening of Sept. 1, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus (SCO Plus) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan expressed her pleasure at meeting Guterres, whom she described as a close friend of the Vietnamese people.
She emphasized that Vietnam has always highly valued the significant contributions made by the United Nations and the Secretary-General personally to global peace and stability.
Vietnam supports the UN in maintaining its central role in preserving international peace and security and promoting sustainable development based on respect for the UN Charter and international law. The country also strongly supports efforts to reform the UN system to make it more streamlined and effective.
Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan meets United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Photo: VNA
Looking ahead to the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-UN relations in 2027, the Vice President proposed that the two sides soon finalize a Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the 2027-2031 period. Vietnam is also ready to facilitate and support the establishment of additional UN offices and organizations in the country if needed.
Briefing the Secretary-General on Vietnam’s development priorities, Xuan called on the UN to continue supporting the country in training high-quality human resources, improving access to green finance and accelerating a just energy transition. These efforts, she said, would support Vietnam in pursuing its goal of maintaining double-digit growth and becoming a developed country by 2045.
Guterres conveyed his regards to General Secretary and President To Lam and stressed that “Vietnam is always in my heart,” while recalling his youth when he participated in protests against the Vietnam War.
Congratulating Vietnam on its achievements, the UN chief said the country has consistently been a pioneering partner and a driving force for multilateral cooperation within the UN system, particularly through its substantive contributions to peacekeeping operations and the just energy transition.
Guterres said he would direct UN agencies in Vietnam to strengthen support for the country’s digital transformation and its goal of achieving double-digit growth, while also actively helping increase the representation of Vietnamese nationals working within the United Nations.
Turning to regional and international issues, the Secretary-General said the UN is working to advance reform of the international financial system to better support developing countries. He also reaffirmed its consistent position in support of ensuring maritime security, safety and freedom of navigation based on international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan also met with Kairat Sarybay, Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).
Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan receives CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay. Photo: VNA
Against the backdrop of a complex international environment, Xuan congratulated CICA on its 30 years of development, saying it has become a mechanism for promoting dialogue and confidence-building among countries, upholding multilateralism, preventing conflict and peacefully resolving disputes on the basis of international law and the UN Charter.
As an active and responsible member of the international community, Vietnam attaches importance to CICA and stands ready to contribute to its activities for peace, stability, security and sustainable development in Asia. This includes the seventh CICA Summit, scheduled to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, in October 2026, as well as efforts to strengthen cooperation between CICA and international and regional organizations, including ASEAN.
CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay praised Vietnam’s role and active contributions in upholding CICA’s fundamental values and principles, including its emphasis on multilateralism and international law, as well as its support for efforts to strengthen connectivity and expand cooperation between CICA and regional organizations, including ASEAN.
Sarybay also reviewed some of CICA’s recent achievements, including efforts to consolidate the Secretariat’s organizational structure and its visits and working sessions in Southeast Asia.
He also outlined several of CICA’s priorities for the coming period, including the adoption of important high-level documents at the upcoming summit and the selection of CICA’s next Chair and Secretary General.
Vietnamnet.vn
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