Vietnamese State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has called for the allocation of COVID-19 vaccines to countries with low a vaccination rate during his speech at the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 76) in New York on Wednesday.

President Phuc put forth specific proposals to promote multilateral cooperation with the UN as the center and take international law as the foundation to cope with complex global challenges, namely wars, conflicts, resource disputes, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The most urgent task at present is to control the COVID-19 pandemic through international cooperation, he said.

Priority in vaccine allocation should be given to nations with a low vaccination rate, the Vietnamese leader continued, adding that developing countries should be enabled to engage in vaccine production and supply chains.

The president stated that the key solution to contain the pandemic and foster economic recovery lies in each nation’s ability to strengthen its resilience.

“Resilience can only be sustained if it is based upon cooperation and connectivity among nations, particularly at a time when non-traditional security challenges do not know borders and can impact any nation,” Phuc said.

Vietnam is working closely with other ASEAN member nations to promote the bloc’s centrality in the maintenance of peace, security, and prosperity in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region, he continued.

Vietnam shares the international community’s common voice on the importance of peace, stability, maritime security and safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Vietnam Sea.

The head of state asked relevant parties to refrain from unilateral actions that may further complicate the situation and to resolve disputes through peaceful means in line with the UN Charter and international law.

“Vietnam will work with countries and people around the world so that together we can prevail over the pandemic, and build a world of peace, prosperity and happiness for all," Phuc said.

"And this will be a glorious victory for us all.”

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