The United Nations and partners in the United States and Canada support Vietnam and want it to make a greater contribution to regional and global affairs, Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung said after Party General Secretary and President To Lam’s trip.
Party General Secretary and President To Lam addresses the high-level general debate of the UN General Assembly. Photo: VNA
Party General Secretary and President To Lam and a high-level Vietnamese delegation returned to Hanoi on September 26, concluding a visit that included the high-level general debate of the 81st UN General Assembly, bilateral activities in the US and a trip to Canada.
Trung said it was To Lam’s first visit to the UN, the US and Canada since Vietnam’s 14th National Party Congress and its elections for the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils for the 2026–2031 term. It was also the first visit to Canada by a Vietnamese Party general secretary and president in the 50 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations.
The trip took place amid complex international developments and major shifts in geopolitics, the economy, science and technology, the minister said.
In high-level discussions, Party General Secretary and President To Lam spoke about Vietnam’s achievements through its reform process, its development and foreign policies, and its goals and direction in a new era. He conveyed Vietnam’s commitment to being an active, responsible member of the international community and to helping address shared challenges.
At the General Assembly’s high-level general debate, To Lam offered his assessment of world affairs and proposals for strengthening the UN’s role and that of its member states. Trung said the address was highly regarded by other countries at a time when multilateral institutions are particularly needed and the UN faces difficulties.
Party General Secretary and President To Lam also met UN development funds, programs and specialized agencies. Vietnam, Trung said, is willing to contribute to their work.
The visit included meetings with government and parliamentary leaders, scholars, scientists, businesspeople, friends of Vietnam and Vietnamese communities in the US and Canada. Trung said the US meetings sustained positive momentum in bilateral relations and demonstrated Vietnam’s goodwill on matters of shared interest, including trade.
In Canada, the two countries established a strategic partnership accompanied by a broad program of action.
Vietnam seeks knowledge as well as funding
Party General Secretary and President To Lam meets foreign leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Photo: VNA
Party General Secretary and President To Lam meets representatives of UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF. Photo: VNA
To Lam meets Canadian leaders and delivers a policy address at Canada’s Parliament. Photo: VNA
Party General Secretary and President To Lam meets US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Photo: VNA
General Phan Van Giang receives wartime artifacts presented by representatives of Texas Tech University. Photo: VNA
Alongside Party General Secretary and President To Lam’s talks and meetings, senior Vietnamese officials in the delegation held discussions with partners and businesses in the two countries and reached a number of agreements.
Vietnam discussed practical ways to develop cooperation that serves its needs in the next stage, Trung said. The areas included trade and investment, science and technology, education and training, energy, and transport.
The Foreign Minister said the bilateral and multilateral activities opened avenues for practical cooperation while contributing to discussions of international issues. He said partners at the UN and in the US and Canada supported Vietnam’s efforts to play a more active role in the region and the world.
At the UN, member states and the secretary-general valued Vietnam’s views, proposals, experience and practical achievements, Trung said, and wanted the country to continue expanding its role.
Vietnamese agencies and organizations should work with UN partners to make better use of their strengths, he added. That means drawing on their knowledge across different fields, as well as the funding support Vietnam has received in the past, to serve the country’s next stage of development.
Trung also called for Vietnam to learn from international experience in developing rules and institutions for intellectual property, information technology and artificial intelligence governance.
With the US and Canada, Vietnamese ministries, agencies and local authorities should work with their partners to turn commitments and agreements into programs and plans with clear steps, deadlines and responsibilities, he said.
The Minister stressed the need to strengthen Vietnam’s capacity to cooperate in emerging fields. In energy, he cited nuclear cooperation as an area in which both the US and Canada have strengths.
Tran Thuong