Brian Jeffrey
Prime Minister’s Meeting with UN Secretary-General
On October 11, during the ASEAN Summits in Vientiane, Laos, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held discussions with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
During their meeting, the Prime Minister acknowledged the important role played by the UN and its agencies in fostering global peace, stability, and development.
He also expressed his appreciation for the assistance and cooperation offered by the United Nations to Vietnam throughout its nearly 40 years of reform efforts.
Emphasizing Vietnam’s alignment with UN principles, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the country’s commitment to multilateralism and international law, aiming to support global initiatives for dialogue, collaboration, and involvement in UN peacekeeping missions.
Moreover, he requested continued UN support for Vietnam in improving disaster resilience, adapting to climate change, and transitioning to sustainable energy sources.
UN Secretary-General’s Recognition of Vietnam
UN Secretary-General António Guterres acknowledged Vietnam as an exemplary nation for peace and sustainable development, referring to it as a “star of ASEAN” and appreciating its contributions to amplifying the voices of developing nations.
He expressed a desire for closer collaboration with Vietnam to implement key outcomes from the Summit for the Future and encouraged Vietnam to continue leading in global initiatives for peace and inclusive development.
Guterres supported the Prime Minister’s proposal for a comprehensive approach to tackling global challenges like natural disasters, climate change, and resource scarcity.
Both leaders agreed on the importance of strengthening ASEAN-UN relations, highlighting ASEAN’s role in facilitating dialogue and collaboration in the face of increasing global and regional tensions.
On that same day, Prime Minister Chinh briefly met with Indonesian Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, who was present at the summit.
During their conversation, the Prime Minister suggested aiming for a balanced bilateral trade target of $18 billion and promoting mutual investments in each other’s markets.
He also encouraged Indonesia to work together with Vietnam to curb illegal fishing practices and to ensure the humane treatment of their fishing vessels and crews, in line with their Strategic Partnership and ASEAN principles.
Vice President Amin acknowledged the upcoming leadership transition in Indonesia and expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation would not only remain steady but also expand significantly.
