ASEAN and Group of Latin American and Caribbean countries hold meeting to enhance coordination, promote multilateralism
WVR - On April 8, at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna, Austria, a meeting took place between the Heads of Delegations of ASEAN countries and the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) to discuss measures to enhance coordination between the two regions at multilateral forums in Vienna.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Vu Le Thai Hoang attended the meeting between the Heads of Delegations of ASEAN countries and the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC). (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Austria) |
The countries affirmed the central role of multilateralism, the United Nations system, and the importance of the consensus principle in international negotiation processes, considering it a foundation to ensure the inclusivity and effectiveness of joint decisions.
Many expressed concerns about the financial difficulties of the United Nations, emphasizing the need to ensure sufficient and stable resources while enhancing budget efficiency.
Additionally, multilingualism continues to be emphasized to ensure equal participation of countries, especially developing nations.
The countries highlighted the coordinating role of the United Nations in other areas such as combating transnational crime, environmental crime, and cybercrime, while calling for increased resources for specialized mechanisms, including processes related to the Hanoi Convention on Cybercrime.
Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang appreciated the significance of the exchange mechanism between ASEAN and GRULAC in promoting coordinated stances among developing countries; emphasized the need to enhance transparency, improve resource allocation and utilization efficiency in United Nations activities, and proposed strengthening coordination between the two groups to elevate their common voice at multilateral forums.
The Ambassador expressed gratitude to the countries for sending delegations to attend the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention on Cybercrime in Hanoi (2025), considering it a testament to international cooperation and a shared commitment to addressing non-traditional security challenges.
Regarding the nuclear field, the Vietnamese Ambassador emphasized the central role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the global nuclear governance architecture, particularly in promoting the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, ensuring nuclear safety and security, and implementing inspection mechanisms, thereby enhancing trust and transparency; affirmed the close link between IAEA activities and the implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and reiterated the need to maintain a balanced approach among the three pillars of the NPT: non-proliferation, disarmament, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy, ensuring no pillar is neglected or implemented to the detriment of another.
The Ambassador also noted that Vietnam is honored to assume the role of designated Chair of the 11th NPT Review Conference in April 2026 and has approached this responsibility with a spirit of responsibility, objectivity, and promoting constructive dialogue through extensive consultations with regional groups and member states, including GRULAC countries.
In the future, ASEAN and GRULAC can coordinate to identify overarching themes, promote connectivity initiatives, and aim for balanced outcomes that reflect the interests of all member countries, especially developing nations.
Despite existing differences, member countries share a common interest in maintaining the credibility and effectiveness of the NPT, and the success of the Conference will depend on goodwill, flexibility, and the ability to overcome differences.
ASEAN continues to strengthen coordination with GRULAC in promoting a balanced approach, ensuring the integrity of the Treaty, while fully addressing the development aspect, particularly the third pillar on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including enhancing technology access, capacity building, and promoting technical cooperation through the IAEA.
Concluding the meeting, the Heads of Delegations from both sides affirmed their commitment to maintaining regular exchanges, strengthening coordinated stances, and contributing positively to reinforcing multilateralism, thereby effectively addressing global challenges and promoting sustainable development.
The meeting demonstrated the spirit of cooperation between ASEAN and GRULAC for the goals of peace, security, safety, and sustainable development in the region and globally, while affirming the increasingly proactive and responsible role of ASEAN in general and Vietnam in particular in important multilateral processes, especially in the nuclear field.
(|Source: Embassy of Vietnam in Austria)
