President Luong Cuong highlights message of peace at the High-Level General Debate of the 80th UNGA
WVR - On September 23 (local time), at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, President Luong Cuong delivered a keynote speech at the High-Level General Debate of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80), highlighting a message of honouring the value of peace, driving bold transformation to shape a sustainable future.
President Luong Cuong delivered a key-note speech at the High-Level Debate of the 80th United Nations General Assembly with the overarching message: “Honoring the value of peace, making strong transformations to build a sustainable future.”
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| President Luong Cuong delivered a key-note speech at the High-Level General Debate of the 80th United Nations General Assembly. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
In his speech, the President affirmed that over the past 80 years, the United Nations has always embodied the common aspirations of humanity for peace, cooperation, and development, based on universal values of human rights, national independence, equality, democracy, and social progress.
However, the world today faces unprecedented challenges such as conflicts, local wars, arms races, use of force, threats of force, strategic competition, unilateralism, and a significant decline in political commitment and resources. Accordingly, the President called on the international community to uphold multilateralism and the international system based on international law, with the United Nations at its centre.
Affirming that peace is both a goal and a prerequisite for building a stable, just, democratic, and prosperous future, he urged countries to adhere to international law and the UN Charter; respect independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; refrain from interfering in internal affairs; avoid the use of force or threat of force; and resolve disputes through peaceful measures.
Emphasising a culture of peace through trust-building, international solidarity, dialogue, and respect for differences, he called for ceasefires, an end to violence, the protection of civilians, and unhindered humanitarian access in conflict zones. He welcomed the recognition of the State of Palestine by many countries, urged urgent humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people, and proposed that the US lift its sanctions on Cuba and remove the country from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
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| The President affirmed that over the past 80 years, the United Nations has always embodied the common aspirations of humanity for peace, cooperation, and development, based on universal values of human rights, national independence, equality, democracy, and social progress. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
The President underscored the role of regional organisations, with ASEAN at the centre of the Asia-Pacific, in actively building a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable ASEAN Community; promoting the ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand; implementing the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar, and maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea based on international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
To build a sustainable future, the Vietnamese President called for reforming multilateral institutions for global governance, especially the UN and international financial and monetary bodies, to enhance adaptability, ensure fairness and transparency, operate in a coordinated, effective, and efficient manner, and better meet the needs of countries and people worldwide.
Aiming to optimise sustainable development based on digital and green transformation, President Cuong stressed that countries must formulate comprehensive strategies, invest strongly in research and development, train high-quality human resources, and develop green technology infrastructure. He particularly highlighted the importance of enhancing international cooperation in technology transfer and mobilisation of green finance. Developed countries should share and transfer technology to developing and underdeveloped countries, ensuring that social transformation processes are human-centered.
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| The Vietnamese delegation. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
President Luong Cuong shared the story of Vietnam's recovery from the ruins of war, transforming from a poor, backward, low-level country under embargo and sanctions to a developing nation with middle income and deep international integration.
Despite many limitations that need to be addressed, the President affirmed Vietnam's determination to achieve strategic goals to become a developing nation with modern industry and high middle income by 2030, and a high-income country by 2045; to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, and become a powerful, prosperous, and happy nation.
President Luong Cuong affirmed Vietnam's commitment to working with all nations to shoulder common responsibilities, overcome challenges, and promote strong transformations to create a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and sustainable world, bringing happiness and prosperity to all people.
On this occasion, President Luong Cuong extended a cordial invitation to nations to attend the Signing Ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi on October 25. He noted that Vietnam is actively preparing to assume the role of Chair of the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapon. The President also called for support for Vietnam's candidacy for the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term and for a position of Judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for the 2026-2036 term.
