Among 163 tentative issues, top priority will be given to five topics, namely global climate change, development assistance, the implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the fight against terrorism, enhancing the management capacity and the reform of the United Nations, including the UN Security Council. These global issues, which cannot be solved by any country unilaterally, will be high on the agenda of this year’s session.  

About 193 speakers, including 70 heads of State and 30 heads of Government, will deliver speeches at this high-level debate. These speeches are considered messages from their respective countries concerning global hot issues which will be debated for appropriate solutions.

At the opening address of the general debate on September 25, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on the international community to take joint action for the sake of “a stronger UN for a better world.”

In this spirit, before the debate, the UN organised a number of high-level conferences on global climate change, the situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and the Middle East. Notably, global climate change is identified as a key issue on the agenda of this year’s session. The UN is expected to work out a roadmap to improve climate change outcomes for mankind from now till 2012 as soon as the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change becomes ineffective. The UN General Assembly is also determined to accelerate the reform process to enhance the management capacity, efficiency and unity of the UN, including the UN Security Council.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the high-level general debate this year will mark a period of ever-intensive multilateral diplomatic activities in the history of the biggest international organisation.

Since its membership on September 20, 1977, Vietnam has actively participated in all activities of the UN in various areas such as peace, security, disarmament, as well as socio-economic development, environmental protection and UN reform. Vietnam’s contributions have been acknowledged by the international community. As a result, Vietnam was elected as vice president of the UN General Assemblies in 1997, 2000 and 2003, president of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation General Assembly session in 2005, and a member of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for many years.

For the UN, Vietnam is a role model in the fight against hunger and poverty – an important factor in implementing the UN Millennium Development Goals. UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam John Hendra said the UN and Vietnam have built an active, trustworthy and mutually respectful partnership which has demonstrated Vietnam’s tremendous achievements and helped the UN fulfil its role in the country. 

The message delivered by PM Nguyen Tan Dung at the high-level general debate is the image of the Vietnamese nation - an active, constructive, cooperative and responsible member in the international community. It is Vietnam’s commitment to better fulfil its obligation as a UN member, particularly after the country is elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.