Vietnam’s Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, his spouse, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation left Hanoi on Saturday morning for a trip to attend the United Nations Summit of the Future and the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, hold working sessions in the U.S., and later pay a state visit to Cuba.

New York City, the headquarters of the United Nations, will be the first stop for General Secretary and State President To Lam.

During his stay in New York, he will participate in the UN Summit of the Future, a high-level meeting of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, as well as engage in work throughout the States. 

The top leader will chair the event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Vietnam-U.S. diplomatic relations and one year of the Vietnam-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

He will also deliver a significant policy speech at Columbia University, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the States.

“This visit marks the first time a General Secretary and State President from Vietnam has directly attended high-level meetings at the UN General Assembly,” emphasized Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son during a pre-trip press briefing.

According to Dennis Francis, president of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, General Secretary To Lam’s participation in the upcoming high-level week is significant. 

It underscores Vietnam’s political commitment at a crucial time when the international community is focused on promoting multilateralism to address pressing global challenges.

The high-level week will spotlight the Summit of the Future from Sunday to Monday, followed by the General Debate of the UN General Assembly from September 24 to 28. 

The discussions are expected to focus on enhancing international cooperation and strengthening multilateralism, with the UN playing a central role in achieving common goals, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, permanent representative of Vietnam to the UN, noted that the Vietnamese delegation to the event aims to deliver a powerful message: “Strengthening multilateralism and working together to create a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and sustainable future for all.”

“This is the first time the General Secretary of our Party has attended the UN General Assembly directly, marking his first multilateral diplomatic activity at a global organization,” Giang noted. 

“This strongly reaffirms Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and proactive international integration,” he stated.

He highlighted Vietnam’s commitment to sharing its vision and solutions regarding the UN’s role and major global issues.

Ambassador Giang also emphasized that this participation reflects Vietnam’s deep interest in multilateral cooperation and key UN agendas. 

From being a recipient of UN support during post-war reconstruction, Vietnam has increasingly engaged with the UN and made important contributions. 

Currently, Vietnam ranks as the 49th largest contributor to the UN budget and has actively participated in all three main pillars: peace and security, development cooperation, and human rights.

Vietnam is a leading advocate for multilateralism, actively participating in UN peacekeeping operations since 2014. 

The country has deployed over 800 military and police personnel to missions in South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Abyei, enhancing the reputation of the Vietnamese armed forces as “messengers of peace.”

Despite its limited resources, Vietnam is committed to addressing climate change and has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. 

The country is also part of a core group promoting a UN General Assembly resolution seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on nations’ responsibilities regarding climate change.

Vietnam’s contributions as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-26 term and the International Law Commission for the 2023-27 term, as well as its past roles as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, underscore its dedication to the principles of the UN Charter, international law, and multilateralism, Francis added. 

State visit to Cuba

General Secretary and State President To Lam will then make a state visit to Cuba at the invitation of Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba, along with his spouse.

The state visit occurs as both countries anticipate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025.

It highlights the enduring solidarity and special friendship between Vietnam and Cuba, a precious bond that both nations have diligently nurtured. 

It also underscores Vietnam’s commitment to Cuba and the significance of Cuba’s role in its foreign policy.

Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen emphasized the significance of the visit.

While there have been many important and groundbreaking visits in various fields over the years, this presents a unique opportunity for Cuba to welcome a General Secretary and State President.

Ambassador Guillen expressed hope that the two sides will reach key agreements and treaties at the Party level, further strengthening the relationship and exchanges between their respective party organizations.

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