During the event, the World Health Organization (WHO) presented a certificate recognizing Vietnam’s contributions and achievements in tobacco harm prevention and control.

The recognition shows the international community’s acknowledgment of the country’s efforts and achievements in policymaking, legal framework development, public awareness campaigns and the implementation of tobacco harm prevention and control activities in recent years.

Speaking at the plenary session, Deputy Minister Vu Manh Ha underscored the importance of stepping up international cooperation to respond effectively to growing global health challenges, including emerging diseases, climate change and the burden of non-communicable diseases.

Vietnam affirmed that global health is no longer an issue for individual countries alone, but requires solidarity and joint action from the international community, Ha stressed, while outlining  three key priorities.

First, the country seeks to strengthen primary healthcare and reinforce grassroots health systems to ensure all people, particularly those in remote and underserved areas, can access comprehensive and quality healthcare services, moving toward universal health coverage.

Second, it  called for advancing global health security by building a fairer global health architecture, enhancing  responsibility-sharing, enhancing data transparency, and ensuring equitable access to vaccines, treatments and medical products in line with the spirit of the WHO Pandemic Agreement.

Third, Vietnam highlighted the need to resolve  the health impacts of climate change. The country is accelerating the transformation of its healthcare system to adapt to and mitigate climate-related risks, while seeking continued international support and cooperation in this field.

Deputy Minister Vu Manh Ha also stressed that “reshaping global health” goes beyond revising legal frameworks, requiring a shift in mindset from passive response to proactive prevention and from competition to cooperation.

Vietnam reaffirmed its commitment to continuing to share experience, contribute resources and work closely with countries and international organizations to build a safer, fairer and more resilient global health system better prepared for future challenges.

On the sidelines of the assembly, Deputy Minister Vu Manh Ha and his delegation also met with health ministry leaders from Cuba, Malaysia, Laos and Japan, along with representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and businesses, to exchange experience and boost health cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

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Vietnam seeks UNDP, WHO support to improve air quality

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