Actively contribute to the common future, strengthen relationships with friends and partners

General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife left Hanoi to attend the Future Summit, the 79th United Nations General Assembly, work in the United States and pay a state visit to Cuba. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam's active, proactive participation and responsible contribution at the Future Summit, 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly will contribute to enhancing Vietnam's international position, while bringing the relationship between Vietnam and the United Nations, international partners and friends to a deeper and more effective level. The working trip will also contribute to deepening the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace , Cooperation and Sustainable Development.

The State visit to Cuba affirms the solidarity, loyalty and consistency of the Party, State and people of Vietnam towards the Party, State and people of Cuba, contributing to continuing to develop the deep and effective Vietnam-Cuba friendship and cooperation.

Vietnam officially joined the United Nations on September 20, 1977. Looking back over the past half century, the Vietnam-United Nations relationship has deepened and been constantly consolidated and strengthened.

The development of the relationship between the two sides contributes to protecting and promoting the national and ethnic interests of Vietnam, especially maintaining and consolidating a peaceful, secure and favorable environment for national development; promoting deeper international integration and contributing to enhancing the position and image of Vietnam in the international arena. This relationship also contributes to deepening the relationship between Vietnam and other countries and partners and mobilizing important resources to serve the cause of national development.

Vietnam has participated more and more proactively, actively, and made substantial and extensive contributions in all areas of the United Nations' pillar activities. Vietnam has been elected to many positions and agencies and has made many marks at the United Nations. Vietnam has successfully held many important positions at the United Nations, such as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2008-2009 and 2020-2021 terms; a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 and 2023-2025 terms; a member of the International Law Commission for the 2023-2027 term; Vice President of the 77th United Nations General Assembly; a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and the International Law Commission.

With many important contributions, Vietnam has contributed to promoting the role of the United Nations and multilateralism, promoting respect for the United Nations Charter, international law, equal relations, and development cooperation among countries. Vietnam has participated in the discussion and adoption of many important resolutions and declarations of the United Nations on development cooperation, disarmament, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, anti-terrorism, and ensuring human rights.

The current world situation continues to evolve in a complex manner. Although peace and cooperation remain the dominant trend, strategic competition and confrontation between major countries are becoming increasingly fierce, having a profound impact on global security, economy and trade, posing a major challenge to multilateralism in general and the United Nations in particular.

General Secretary and President To Lam delivered a video message at the event “Global Call for the Future Summit”. (Photo: VNA)

In that context, the United Nations organized the Future Summit with the theme “Multilateral solutions for a better future” from September 22 to 23 and the High-level General Debate of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly with the theme “Leaving no one behind: Working together to promote peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations” from September 24 to 28 to unify global solutions to future challenges, as well as urgent global issues today.

Ahead of the conference, General Secretary and President To Lam sent a video message to the Global Call for the Future Summit. In the message, the General Secretary and President emphasized that the Future Summit is an opportunity for the United Nations and multilateralism to affirm irreplaceable values in the face of the great challenges of the times.

The General Secretary and President hoped that the Future Summit would bring new thinking and new ways of doing things for the future of the world and suggested focusing on discussing transformative solutions, including transformation in science, technology and innovation, green transformation and transformation of global governance.

According to the General Secretary and President, Vietnam is committed to actively contributing to the Future Summit and joint efforts to strengthen international peace, cooperation and solidarity, contributing to the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), so that people can fully enjoy the fruits of development and prepare for future generations.

The working trip to attend the Future Summit and the 79th United Nations General Assembly is the first multilateral foreign activity of General Secretary and President To Lam at the largest global forum of primary importance.

General Secretary and President To Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation carried a strong and consistent message of strengthening multilateralism and working together to create a peaceful, stable, prosperous and sustainable future for all people. The trip will clearly demonstrate the image of Vietnam as a proactive, active and responsible member of the international community.

Vietnam-US relations have continued to develop positively in recent years, notably the upgrading of the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation and Sustainable Development in September 2023. Over the past year, the new framework of relations has been actively implemented by both sides and has achieved many practical results.

Contacts and delegation exchanges took place actively at all channels and levels. Along with maintaining regular bilateral dialogue mechanisms, such as the Asia-Pacific Dialogue, the Law of the Sea Dialogue, etc., the two sides for the first time held an annual dialogue at the Foreign Minister level, an Economic Dialogue, and a Security and Law Enforcement Dialogue at the deputy minister level.

President To Lam received US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on his visit to Vietnam to pay his condolences and pay his respects to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, July 27, 2024. (Photo: VNA)

Economic, trade and investment cooperation continues to be an important driving force for bilateral relations. The United States remains Vietnam’s largest export market. Meanwhile, Vietnam has become the United States’ eighth largest trading partner in the world and its largest in ASEAN. Vietnam is also the United States’ sixth largest import market for goods.

Bilateral trade turnover increases by an average of about 16% per year. Two-way trade turnover in the first 8 months of 2024 reached nearly 88 billion USD, up 22% over the same period in 2023. For the first time, the United States has become the largest export market for Vietnamese agricultural, forestry and fishery products.

The United States is the 11th largest foreign investor in Vietnam with diverse investment forms. The United States ranks 7th among countries and territories receiving investment from Vietnam. Many large enterprises of the two countries are actively expanding investment in each other's markets, thereby creating a situation of intertwined interests.

Security and defense cooperation is maintained at an appropriate level with diverse cooperation content, notably cooperation in overcoming war consequences and improving maritime capacity.

Educational cooperation has made many positive strides recently with both sides promoting cooperation in education and training and technology transfer. Cooperation on climate change continues to be strengthened.

President To Lam receives US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper, June 13, 2024. (Photo: VNA)

The two sides also maintained regular exchanges to enhance cooperation and discussed prospects for expanding cooperation in new areas of each side's need, including the semiconductor industry.

Regarding multilateral cooperation, the two countries continue to coordinate closely on international and regional issues of mutual concern. The United States continues to affirm its support for the centrality and solidarity of ASEAN, while highly appreciating Vietnam's position and role in the Association, in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as in international forums such as the United Nations and in responding to common global challenges.

General Secretary and President To Lam's working visit to the United States marks one year since the two countries established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and takes place ahead of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025.

In this context, the working trip will contribute to continuing to implement the results of the agreement between the two countries' senior leaders and the Joint Statement on upgrading Vietnam-US relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Thereby, the two sides will continue to adhere to the fundamental principles of the bilateral relationship, further consolidate political trust and strategic confidence, ensure the aspirations of the people of the two countries, and make more positive contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development in the region as well as in the world.

On December 2, 1960, Cuba became the first country in the Western Hemisphere to establish full diplomatic relations with Vietnam. The special solidarity between the two countries is built on a solid foundation from similarities in the history of national construction and defense, revolutionary ideals, and the heroic tradition of fighting for independence and freedom. The Vietnamese people always remember the immortal words of leader Fidel Castro: "For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to sacrifice its own blood."

As a precious heritage, highly valued by the Party, State and people of the two countries, the traditional solidarity and special friendship between Vietnam and Cuba continues to develop well through all channels.

The relationship between the two parties has deepened, playing the role of political foundation, guiding the development of relations between the two countries. The two sides maintain bilateral contacts and delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-level ones. The two sides also effectively implement the mechanisms of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, Defense Policy Dialogue at the level of Deputy Defense Ministers; Political Consultation at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers, etc.

General Secretary and President To Lam received Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen, September 19, 2024. (Photo: Nhandan.vn)

The leaders of the two countries agreed to inherit and strongly promote the fine traditions, determined to bring the special relationship between the two countries to a new stage of development, increasingly deepening and becoming more effective, focusing on gradually raising economic, trade and investment cooperation to the level of the good political relations between the two countries.

Regarding trade cooperation, Vietnam is currently Cuba’s second largest Asian trade partner. The two sides continue to implement the Vietnam-Cuba Trade Agreement with many preferential trade commitments, bringing benefits to businesses of both countries and creating favorable conditions for bilateral import and export activities.

Regarding investment cooperation, Vietnam is currently the largest foreign investor in Asia in Cuba. Vietnamese enterprises are interested in and gradually expanding investment cooperation in Cuba, especially in the Mariel special economic zone, in the fields of production of essential consumer goods, construction materials and renewable energy.

At international forums, especially the United Nations, the two sides actively support and assist each other, especially in matters of strategic interest. Vietnam's solidarity and support for Cuba have always been strongly demonstrated, especially through the statements with a steadfast stance of the leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State at multilateral forums.

President To Lam received Cuban National Assembly Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernandez on his visit to offer condolences and attend the funeral of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, July 24, 2024. (Photo: VNA)

The two countries are looking forward to celebrating the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025. In this context, Comrade To Lam's first visit to Cuba after being elected as the head of the Party and State demonstrates the high regard of the Party, State and the General Secretary and President personally for Cuba and the special, loyal, pure and exemplary solidarity that is rare in international relations between the two countries.

The visit of the General Secretary and President will also continue to contribute to strengthening political trust and improving the effectiveness of cooperation between the two Parties and two countries in the coming time.

The working trip of General Secretary and President To Lam aims to affirm the consistent foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress and the resolutions and directives of the Politburo and Secretariat on strengthening and improving the effectiveness of the Party's foreign relations, promoting and elevating multilateral foreign relations. The working trip affirms at the highest level the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification of foreign relations, proactive and active international integration. Vietnam is a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community, always actively contributing to peace, friendship, cooperation and development in the region and the world.