Global institutions urged to fully perform roles in addressing global challenges

Addressing the general debate of the 79th UN General Assembly in New York on September 24 (local time), Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President To Lam noted that the world is undergoing epoch-making changes. He said peace, cooperation, and development are facing new, serious difficulties and challenges, such as intense strategic competition, increasing risks of tension, confrontation, and clashes. Multilateral institutions and trust in global cooperation are being eroded, while non-traditional security challenges are hindering humanity’s development efforts.

In this context, To Lam called on countries to strengthen solidarity, work together, take coordinated action, and enhance the role of global institutions, particularly the United Nations and regional organizations such as ASEAN, aiming to end wars, eliminate all forms of oppression and exploitation, create peace, build a better world, and bring happiness to humanity.

Sharing Vietnam’s vision for the future, the General Secretary and President emphasized that peace and stability serve as the foundations for building a prosperous future. Nations, especially major powers, must adhere to international law and the United Nations Charter, act responsibly and fulfill commitments to contribute to common goals, while strengthening solidarity, fostering sincerity and trust, promoting dialogue, and ending confrontation.

It is essential to unlock, mobilize and effectively utilize all resources for development, with priority to be given to vulnerable areas in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said To Lam.

He also requested support to developing countries, including preferential financing, advanced technology transfer, high-quality human resource training, investment and trade facilitation and reductions of debt burdens.

Calling for the establishment of smart global governance frameworks, To Lam stressed the need for a long-term vision regarding science and technology, especially emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, to promote progressive development while proactively preventing threats to peace, sustainable development, and humanity.

He advocated for a new mindset and efforts to drive transformation, focusing on digital transformation, green transformation, and global governance reform, to help countries enhance resilience and self-reliance.

Reforming multilateral mechanisms should ensure better representation, equity, transparency, effectiveness, and preparedness for the future, he said, adding that it is crucial to place people at the center of the development process, with particular attention to investing in and comprehensively developing the younger generation in knowledge and culture, based on shared values and a spirit of responsibility and contribution.

Themed “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations” the general debate was attended by 155 heads of State and government from UN member countries, along with representatives from international and regional organizations.

In his opening remarks, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that geo-political divisions are deepening, temperatures around the world are rising, wars are raging – without any end in sight, and nuclear posturing and new weapons are “casting a dark shadow”.

“We are edging towards the unimaginable – a powder keg that risks engulfing the world,” he said.

Guterres asserted that the international community can overcome these challenges if it addresses the root causes of global divisions, namely inequality and violations of international law and the UN Charter.

Philemon Yang, President of the 79th UN General Assembly, also emphasized that international cooperation is essential for solving global issues and building a better future for all people worldwide.