At a meeting with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed in New York on May 16 (local time), the PM reiterated Vietnam’s strong commitments to multilateralism and a world order based on international law and the UN Charter, as well as the country’s support for the UN’s central role in the global administration system, saying it needs global, all-people, and comprehensive approaches to tackle common challenges like epidemics and climate change.
He also suggested the UN continue to assist developing countries in the COVID-19 fight, social welfare and recovery in a greener, more sustainable and self-reliant fashion.
PM Chinh asked UN to give more assistance to Vietnam in fulfilling sustainable development goals (SDGs), including those on gender equality, clean energy, economic growth and sustainable employment.
He urged the UN to back ASEAN’s centrality in handling regional issues, including maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), and support Myanmar to stabilise the situation through dialogue and reconciliation, ensuring safety for civilians and humanitarian access.
Amina emphasised that Vietnam is an important partner and a friend of the UN, expressing her hope for more comprehensive, effective relations between the two sides.
The UN official shared Vietnam’s viewpoints in many regional and international issues, including one on the East Sea, and expressed her hope that the ASEAN-UN relationship will be strengthened for peace, security and prosperity in the region and the world.
Amina also expressed her belief that Vietnam will carry forward its role in addressing global issues.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) and President of the UN General Assembly Abdulla Shahid. (Photo: VNA)

On this occasion, PM Chinh had a meeting with Abdulla Shahid, President of the UN General Assembly, during which he spoke highly of the priorities set by the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, covering sustainable development, post-pandemic recovery, climate change response, and UN reform.

Vietnam backs improving the role of the UN General Assembly and enhancing relations of its agencies, he said.

Briefing Shahid on major policies and guidelines of the Vietnamese Party and State on socio-economic development, and pandemic response and adaptation in the new normal, Chinh suggested the UN step up priorities towards developing countries in the transfer of vaccine and drug production technologies, medical equipment and finance in service of their development, among others.

As a coastal country, Vietnam has paid due attention to enhancing maritime security, and the observance of the 1982 UNCLOS, he said, calling on the UN General Assembly President to pay more heed to the matters over which many UN member countries share concern.

Shahid held that Vietnam is a success story as the country has overcome a range of difficulties to record marked achievements in socio-economic development and pandemic fight.

Vietnam is a model of the UN, he continued, praising the country’s significant contributions to consolidating multilateralism and UN activities, especially its efforts in promoting global commitments like the one on climate change response.

The two sides shared the view on the necessity to intensify multilateralism and international cooperation to cope with global challenges, especially epidemics and climate change.