For nearly five decades since Vietnam officially joined the U.N. on September 20, 1977, the cooperation between Vietnam and the U.N. has grown steadily, effectively, and fruitfully. The U.N. has stood alongside Vietnam through every stage, from post-war reconstruction and recovery to active and extensive international integration. This partnership has helped safeguard and advance Vietnam’s national interests, particularly in maintaining and strengthening a peaceful, secure, and favorable environment for national development; promoting deeper international integration; and enhancing the country’s image and standing in the international arena. It has also opened an important channel for Vietnam to deepen relations with other nations and partners, thereby mobilizing valuable resources to support national development.
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U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres |
For Vietnam, the country has increasingly demonstrated pro-active, active, and responsible participation as a member state, making substantial and broad contributions across the U.N.’s three main pillars, namely peace and security, development cooperation; the promotion and protection of human rights; engagement in discussions and the adoption of key U.N. resolutions and declarations. The country has been entrusted with many important positions and memberships within U.N. bodies, leaving significant imprints in forums, such as the U.N. General Assembly, the U.N. Security Council, the U.N. Human Rights Council, and the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Vietnam has also been a strong advocate for U.N. reform initiatives and is recognized as one of the leading countries implementing the U.N.’s “Delivering as One” initiative to enhance the organization’s effectiveness at the national level.
Secretary-General Guterres’s official visit to Vietnam and attendance at the Hanoi Convention coincide with the 80th anniversary of the foundation day of the U.N. (October 24, 1945 - 2025). This demonstrates the U.N. leader’s high regard for cooperative relations with Vietnam as well as for the country’s contribution and role in multilateral forums in general and within the U.N. in particular. It also reaffirms Vietnam’s growing international position, reputation, and credibility at the U.N. and other multilateral institutions.
This visit carries profound symbolic significance, as Vietnam is among the very few countries that Secretary-General Guterres has visited more than once during his tenure. Furthermore, it reflects the parallel development journeys of Vietnam and the U.N., two partners sharing core values and principles that continue to shape the future.
Welcoming Secretary-General Guterres back to Vietnam once again demonstrates the country’s consistent commitment to its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralization of external relations. It also underscores Vietnam’s pro-active approach to comprehensive, extensive, and effective international integration, while reaffirming that the U.N. holds an important place in Vietnam’s foreign policy, and the country deeply values the U.N.’s meaningful and practical support over the years.
The visit also provides an opportunity for Vietnam to continue garnering support from the U.N. and the international community for its socio-economic development efforts, the ongoing process of streamlining and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of its administrative apparatus at all levels, as well as for issues related to the country’s security and development, in line with the U.N.’s principles and operational orientations.
This visit by Secretary-General António Guterres stands as a recognition of Vietnam’s strong commitments, efforts, and contribution to the U.N.’s major activities and global priorities. We are confident that his visit will further promote and deepen Vietnam - U.N. cooperation, making it more effective and substantive, and continuing to help Vietnam achieve new successes in its ongoing process of renewal and development.
By Editorial Board of the People’s Army Newspaper
Translated by Tran Hoai