The Summit of the Future is a pivotal moment and Vietnam's participation is crucial: United Nations Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam will attend the UN Summit of the Future, the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79). On this occasion, Ms. Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam shared with the WVR the significance of the Summit of the Future and Vietnam's participation.
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| The Summit of the Future will be the highlight of the high-level segment of the 79th session of the UNGA. (Source: un.org) |
Could you please share with us the key messages of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly?
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) serves as a forum where all 193 Member States convene to discuss and work on important issues under the UN Charter: peace, security, and development. Through its convening power, the UNGA fosters multilateral dialogue and defines the priorities for global cooperation, such as on climate action, human rights, and conflict resolution.
The call for reimagining and strengthening multilateral cooperation is at the heart of the 79th session of the UNGA. The focus is on using collective resources to advance peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.
Sustainable Development takes center stage with a renewed push for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in supporting vulnerable regions. The message is clear: we must combat poverty and inequality while safeguarding the environment.
Peace and Security also hold a prominent position. The emphasis is on conflict prevention and peaceful resolutions in places like Gaza, Ukraine, Haiti, and Africa. Reducing military expenditures and building trust are seen as essential to achieving global peace.
Human Rights and Dignity remain at the core, advocating for gender equality and women's empowerment as key drivers of progress. The session stresses that human dignity must be upheld everywhere, for everyone.
Technological Innovation is viewed as a double-edged sword. The 79th UNGA session underscores the need to harness innovations, in particular, artificial intelligence for the common good while ensuring that technology is accessible and just. Strengthening international law and combating global threats such as terrorism and human trafficking are also high on the agenda.
Economic Growth and Equity emphasize sustainable, inclusive growth through innovation and green economies, ensuring that developing nations are not left behind in the global economy.
The 79th General Assembly session also highlights Youth Empowerment. The next generation is seen as a transformative force for future economic development.
Finally, the session calls for Institutional Reforms, pushing for updates to the UN system itself, including the Security Council and financing mechanisms, to better reflect the realities of today’s global challenges.
In sum, the 79th session of the UNGA is about renewing the global commitment to tackle these challenges together, with an eye toward a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future. The Summit of the Future will be the highlight of the high-level segment of the session.
Summit of the Future is highly anticipated by the public. How do you evaluate the significance of the Summit and Vietnam's participation?
The Summit of the Future is a pivotal moment in global cooperation. We are facing challenges that our current international systems - designed decades ago - are simply not equipped to handle. From climate change and widening inequality to the rapid development of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).
The world has changed, but our institutions have not properly kept up. The Summit aims to overhaul these outdated structures, creating a new framework for global governance that is inclusive, effective, and ready for the 21st century. It is about building systems that can solve the problems we face today, not the ones we faced almost 80 years ago when the UN was established.
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| Ms. Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam. (Source: UN Vietnam) |
Viet Nam's participation in the Summit is crucial. As a middle-income country, Vietnam has a vested interest in reshaping global financial structures to ensure access to affordable financing for sustainable development. Viet Nam adds its voice and leadership to the critical discussions on climate change - a timely reminder of a developing country’s vulnerability to climate change, especially soon after Typhon Yagi brought immense damage to its most vulnerable populations.
By participating actively, Vietnam can advocate for reforms that prioritize developing countries and contribute to building more inclusive and responsive international institutions. The Summit likewise offers Vietnam a platform to collaborate with global leaders, ensuring that its perspectives and challenges are addressed in the pursuit of a more just and sustainable future. The Summit is an important opportunity for Vietnam to lead and contribute to global conversations and follow-up actions.
| Vietnam adds its voice and leadership to the critical discussions on climate change - a timely reminder of a developing country’s vulnerability to climate change, especially soon after Typhon Yagi brought immense damage to its most vulnerable populations. |
In the pre-recorded remarks by H.E. General Secretary and State President, Mr. To Lam, for the Summit of the Future, he recognized that the “historic summit will bring about new thinking and new modus operandi for the world’s future.” He also recognized that, “it presents great opportunity for the United Nations and multilateralism to reaffirm their irreplaceable values in face of today’s tremendous challenges.”
He also identified that “transformations must begin with advances in science, technology and innovation” and that “the United Nations must take the lead in establishing legal frameworks for information sharing and assisting countries in safely and securely developing groundbreaking technologies.” Equally noteworthy is the proposal for the “establishment of a global green technology platform where ASEAN and other regional organizations can share their experiences and promote green technology development.”
With Vietnam’s active contributions to the Summit and collective efforts to strengthen peace, cooperation and international solidarity with a view to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN in Vietnam is confident that together, “we can achieve the Summit’s goals and lay a solid foundation for future generations.”
What are your assessments of the urgency of solving global problems, especially climate change issues?
The Summit of the Future aims to ambitiously to mobilize immediate and collective action to address urgent crises and emerging issues that threaten the very existence of humanity.
We are amid "runaway climate chaos," where rising sea levels, extreme weather events and environmental degradation are accelerating at an alarming pace. Typhoon Yagi and its aftermath is estimated to cause $1.6 billion in damage for Vietnam with a projected 0.15 per cent reduction in Vietnam’s GDP for 2024. If we don’t act swiftly, this chaos could lead to irreversible damage, threatening ecosystems, food security, health, and economic stability across the globe.
At the same time, we need to push global cooperation into the 21st century to address this existential threat before it's too late. It’s not just about taking action – it’s about taking action together, with urgency and in good faith. Only then can we hope to secure a livable future for all.
In your opinion, what roles do the youth play in the global effort towards a sustainable future?
Young people are essential in the global mobilization for a sustainable future. We see youth as true partners in these efforts. Young people bring fresh perspectives, energy, and, most importantly, a long-term perspective for tackling major challenges like climate change, inequality, and peacebuilding.
Youth are often the drivers of innovation and social change, leading movements and pushing boundaries in ways that reshape societies.
The UN is committed to ensuring that youth are meaningfully engaged at every level of decision-making, making sure their voices don’t just echo in the room but actually shape policies.
By fully integrating young people into global efforts, we can make decisions that are not only future facing but also more inclusive, paving the way for a future that reflects the needs and aspirations of the next generation.
Vietnam is quite fortunate. Young people comprise 21% of Vietnam’s population - over 21 million people - the highest proportion of youth in the country’s history. Vietnam should continue to enable the youth to bring their ideas, expertise and energy to decision-making platforms locally and globally.
