President To Lam Calls for Strengthened Multilateralism and Global Cooperation in UNGA Speech
New York, The Gulf Observer: Party General Secretary and State President To Lam delivered a powerful and comprehensive address at the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), emphasizing the urgent need for collective global action to build a peaceful, stable, and prosperous future for all citizens. The session, held under the theme “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and humanity for today and future generations,” attracted 155 heads of state and government, along with leaders from international and regional organizations.
In his speech, Lam highlighted the transformative changes the world is currently undergoing, stating that while peace, cooperation, and development remain dominant global trends, they are increasingly threatened by new and more serious challenges. He warned that strategic competition between major powers is becoming broader, more intense, and confrontational, exacerbating political disputes, conflicts, and security concerns.
“The survival and development space is narrowing,” Lam remarked. “The risks of conflict, the emergence of new hotspots, arms races, and direct confrontations are growing. Non-traditional security challenges are further complicating efforts towards human development.”
He stressed that these unprecedented challenges to global peace, cooperation, and sustainable development call for urgent action. “These challenges affect both the current and future generations. They compel us to unite, act, and uphold the role of international institutions like the United Nations and regional organizations, such as ASEAN, to bring an end to war, oppression, and exploitation, and to build a peaceful world that ensures happiness for all humankind.”
Sharing Vietnam’s vision for a more peaceful, cooperative, and sustainable future, Lam called for major powers to promote adherence to international law and the UN Charter, to act responsibly, and to fulfill their commitments to the international community. He emphasized the need for solidarity, trust, and dialogue to eliminate confrontation and ensure stability.
Lam also underscored the importance of mobilizing and utilizing global resources effectively to meet development needs, particularly in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He urged the international community to prioritize support for developing and less-developed countries through preferential loans, technology transfers, investment facilitation, and debt relief.
Turning to emerging technologies, the Vietnamese leader called for the establishment of smart global governance frameworks with a long-term vision, particularly in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), to ensure technological advancement while mitigating potential threats to peace and humanity. He also advocated for innovative thinking and transformation across sectors, focusing on digital transformation, green transition, and reforms in global governance structures.
“Reforming multilateral mechanisms, particularly within the UN and international financial institutions, is essential to ensure better representation, equity, and transparency,” he noted, emphasizing that people must be at the center of all policies and actions.
Lam concluded by stressing the importance of investing in the development of future generations. “The youth must be equipped with knowledge, culture, and a sense of responsibility. They are the drivers of progress and the custodians of our shared values,” he stated.
His speech reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation as the world navigates complex challenges in pursuit of a sustainable and equitable future for all.
