These included meetings with the Secretariat of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), held on the occasion of the 58th session of the Commission, as well as with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

The 58th plenary session of UNCITRAL brought together representatives from nearly 80 countries and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. Participants discussed a range of international trade law topics, including carbon markets, negotiable transport documents, and the application of new technologies in dispute resolution. The session also reviewed reports from the Secretariat and various working groups.

To deepen Vietnam-UNCITRAL cooperation, on July 17, Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan and UNCITRAL Secretary Anna Joubin-Bret signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNCITRAL for the 2025–2031 period. The MOU outlines cooperation priorities, including legal frameworks for green and digital economies, capacity building for Vietnamese legal experts, and support for improving Vietnam’s legal infrastructure for international trade. Deputy Minister Tuan highlighted UNCITRAL’s important role, congratulated the success of the 58th session, and thanked the Secretariat for its effective cooperation. In response, Joubin-Bret welcomed Vietnam’s initiative to raise the carbon market issue at UNCITRAL and expressed support for organizing an event in Hanoi to mark the 60th anniversary of the Commission.

On the sidelines of the session, the Vietnamese delegation partnered with the UNCITRAL Secretariat to host a side event on July 15, introducing “Carbon markets” as a potential agenda item for future UNCITRAL work.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang, Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to the UN and international organizations in Vienna, stressed the importance of carbon markets and called on UNCITRAL to continue researching related legal issues to help harmonize civil and commercial laws for carbon transactions. He noted that Vietnam is currently developing a legal framework to formally establish a carbon market by 2029, and described the event as an opportunity to share progress, strengthen cooperation, and raise awareness among stakeholders about the market.

The event captured major interest from participating countries and international experts, both in person and online. Experts from Paraguay, El Salvador, the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), and the World Bank shared international experience on carbon market governance and legal frameworks. They affirmed that this topic holds strong potential for UNCITRAL’s future work, serving the needs of developing countries and contributing to the mobilization of climate finance.

At a meeting with UNIDO Deputy Director General Ciyong Zou, Deputy Minister Tuan praised UNIDO’s role in supporting industrial cooperation and development in developing countries, including Vietnam. He shared that Vietnam’s industrial sector grew by nearly 10% in 2024, and asked UNIDO to continue its support through policy advice, capacity building, the promotion of green and modern industries, and the recruitment of more Vietnamese professionals to the organization. He also reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to working with relevant ministries and agencies to carry out the Vietnam–UNIDO Country Programme and mark the 40th anniversary of Vietnam joining UNIDO.

Zou congratulated Vietnam on its impressive industrial achievements and welcomed its strategic direction focused on high-tech applications, digital transformation, and innovation. He affirmed that UNIDO will further boost cooperation with Vietnam to support its industrial development goals.

At the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan and Candice Welsch, Director of UNODC’s Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, signed a Host Country Agreement (HCA) between the Government of Vietnam and UNODC to support the organization of the signing ceremony for the UN Convention on Cybercrime, scheduled for October 2025. The HCA establishes the basis for cooperation to ensure the event is hosted at the highest standard.

Deputy Minister Tuan stated that Vietnam has sent invitations to other countries via multiple channels in New York, Vienna, and Hanoi, as well as through bilateral embassies. Many UN member states have responded positively, with several confirming the participation of high-level delegations. Welsch affirmed that UNODC leadership fully shares Vietnam’s commitment to the event’s success and has included the signing ceremony in all bilateral discussions with member states. She confirmed that UNODC will soon dispatch a pre-event mission to Vietnam and pledged close coordination with the Vietnamese government to make the convention signing a landmark multilateral diplomatic event in 2025, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.     

UNCITRAL is a specialized legal body of the UN General Assembly, established in 1966 to promote the harmonization and unification of international trade law, thereby removing legal barriers to trade. The Commission currently has 70 member states, each elected by the General Assembly for a six-year term, with geographic, legal, and economic system balance considered. Vietnam has now been elected to UNCITRAL for a second consecutive term for 2025–2031.

          The UN Convention on Cybercrime was officially adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 24, 2024. It comprises nine chapters and 71 articles covering a range of important issues. The adoption marked the collective effort of all UN member states, with Vietnam playing an active role throughout the process. This will be the first time a global multilateral treaty in a top-priority area such as cybersecurity and digital governance is signed in Vietnam. As per international practice, the agreement will be referred to as the “Hanoi Convention,” recognizing Vietnam’s active and responsible contributions to treaty development and its broader commitment to tackling global challenges under the UN framework.

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