On this occasion, Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang granted an interview to the press regarding the significance and objectives of the State President’s working trip.
Reporter: Could you please elaborate on the significance and objectives of State President Luong Cuong’s participation in the High-level General Debate of UNGA 80, along with his bilateral activities in the United States?
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang: The working trip by State President Luong Cuong and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation carries special significance with multiple goals both bilaterally and multilaterally. On the multilateral front, the visit coincides with the 80th founding anniversary of the U.N. and Vietnam’s 80th National Day.
    |
 |
|
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang |
The trip aims to further implement the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, multilateralization, and pro-active, active, comprehensive, extensive and effective international integration as set forth by the 13th National Party Congress and major guidelines of the Party and State. These include the Politburo’s Resolution No.59-NQ/TW on international integration in the new context and the Secretariat’s Conclusion No.125-KL/TW on strengthening the implementation of Directive No.25-CT/TW on promoting and elevating multilateral diplomacy until 2030.
Through the visit, Vietnam will reaffirm its role as a responsible U.N. member, proactively and substantively contributing to U.N. activities and global priorities, at a time when the U.N. is in need of the support and active engagement of key, constructive countries like Vietnam.
On this occasion, the State President will also meet with numerous world leaders and partners to deepen relations, and to mobilize cooperation and support from the U.N., countries, and key partners for Vietnam’s current major priorities. These include hosting the signing ceremony of the U.N. Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes in Hanoi on October 25, 2025; preparing to assume the presidency of the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 2026; and running for several important U.N. positions.
Accordingly, the State President will attend the high-level meeting commemorating the U.N.’s 80th founding anniversary, deliver important speeches at the High-level General Debate of UNGA 80 and at the Special High-Level Event on Climate Action hosted by the U.N. Secretary-General.
On the bilateral level, the trip takes place on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam–U.S. diplomatic ties. It will be an opportunity for both sides to review their three-decade journey from former adversaries to comprehensive strategic partners, while outlining a road-map to further substantiate and sustainably advance this framework. Both sides are expected to continue to emphasize the fundamental principles of the relationship, including respect for the U.N. Charter, international law, each other’s political system, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; to enhance political trust and strategic confidence; and to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation that delivers practical outcomes for the people of both countries while contributing to regional and global peace, stability, prosperity, and sustainable development, without undermining the legitimate interests of either country.
State President Luong Cuong will meet with U.S. leaders, hold discussions with businesses, financial organizations, long-time partners, and leading scholars, and chair the celebration of Vietnam’s 80th National Day in New York. These activities aim to underscore Vietnam’s policy of further developing relations with the U.S., particularly in economy, trade, investment, science, and technology; to push forward the implementation of agreements reached between the two countries’ senior leaders; and to garner support from U.S. stakeholders to Vietnam and the Vietnam-U.S ties, as well as demonstrate the Party and State's care for the Vietnamese community in the U.S.
Reporter: Could you elaborate on Vietnam’s contributions to the U.N., and your assessment of Vietnam–U.S. cooperation?
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang: Over nearly 50 years, cooperation between Vietnam and the U.N. has grown into a strong partnership. The U.N. has always stood by Vietnam, providing valuable support for the period of post-war reconstruction, the efforts to break the embargoes, and during the country’s step-by-step deepening international integration. In turn, Vietnam has become increasingly proactive and substantive in its contributions to the U.N. across ideas, concrete actions, personnel, and resources, in all key areas of the organization’s work. Vietnam has initiated many appropriate and timely proposals that have been well received and highly appreciated by the U.N. and the international community.
Vietnam has made notable progress in implementing the Millennium Development Goals and is actively advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The country is also among the pioneers in U.N. reform, effectively implementing the “Delivering as One” initiative, and is currently among a group of countries of the Just Energy Transition Partnership for addressing climate change, a cross-cutting U.N. priority.
In recent years, Vietnam has held many important positions in key U.N. bodies on peace, security, law, human rights, and culture. In particular, in more than a decade of participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations, Vietnam has deployed nearly 1,500 officers and soldiers to South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and the U.N. mission in Abyei, with women making up 16%, surpassing the U.N.’s set target. Many Vietnamese officers are also serving in U.N. offices and the U.N. Secretariat, making significant contributions that are highly valued by the organization.
Amid multilateralism and challenges facing the U.N., Vietnam is regarded as an active partner in promoting multilateral cooperation with the U.N. and is seen as a model for effective cooperation with the organization.
As for Vietnam–U.S. relations, after 30 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties and two years of elevating the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the two countries have made remarkable progress, becoming a model of effort to heal, overcome the past, and move toward the future in international relations. Thanks to persistent efforts from both governments and peoples, the bilateral relationship continues to grow with impressive results across all fields.
Politically, the Vietnam-U.S. ties have been strengthened through high-level visits and exchanges, including the working trip (to attend the 79th session of the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA 79) and the Summit of the Future) by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in September 2024, and four phone calls between the two countries’ leaders since then. Through discussions and meetings, the U.S. increasingly valued Vietnam’s position and its relations with the country, while reaffirming its commitment to supporting a “strong, independent, self-reliant, and prosperous” Vietnam.
Economically, the two sides are advancing effective and sustainable trade, investment, and business cooperation, while addressing issues such as reciprocal tax. The U.S. remains Vietnam’s largest export market, with two-way trade surpassing USD 100 billion. Investment and cooperation in future-oriented fields such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence are being promoted. Vietnam always appreciates U.S. support in policy-making, development of high-quality human resources, and critical digital infrastructure, enabling the country to integrate deeper into the global semiconductor supply chain.
Defense and security cooperation is also growing, especially in war legacy settlement, with significant progress in dioxin cleanup projects and support for people with disabilities.
Internationally, the two countries coordinate closely at regional and global forums, particularly within ASEAN and the U.N. Security Council, in addressing global challenges. Vietnam welcomes U.S. implementation of initiatives and cooperation activities in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean, while valuing U.S. support for ASEAN centrality and Vietnam’s role in regional and international forums as well as in addressing common challenges. Both sides also maintain candid, constructive exchanges on differences.
I firmly believe that State President Luong Cuong’s working trip will be a success both multilaterally and bilaterally, leaving a positive mark on Vietnam’s role, position, and substantive contributions to addressing global issues as well as on the further strengthening of Vietnam–U.S. relations and Vietnam’s relations with other countries for the sake of peace and development in the region and the world.
Reporter: Thank you, Deputy Minister!
Translated by Trung Thanh