HCMC – Vietnam’s Party General Secretary and President To Lam has met with top United Nations (UN) officials in New York in the U.S. to discuss a range of issues like climate change adaptation and sustainable development.
During the meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on September 24 (local time), Lam raised concerns about the recent devastating impact of typhoon Yagi on Vietnam and thanked the UN for its support in disaster response and risk reduction.
The Vietnamese top leader proposed closer cooperation between Vietnam and international agencies on energy transition, digital transformation, and sustainable governance. He emphasized the need to address the interests of developing countries like Vietnam in multilateral platforms.
Guterres, while expressibg admiration for Vietnam’s development achievements, reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting the country’s efforts in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Both sides agreed to collaborate on energy transition, build capacity to address global challenges, and increase Vietnam’s involvement in UN peacekeeping operations.
In the meeting with the President of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Philémon Yang, Lam congratulated the Cameroonian diplomat on his appointment and expressed Vietnam’s support for the UNGA priorities, including peace, sustainable development, and youth empowerment.
Lam stated Vietnam is willing to promote cooperation in agriculture and share farming expertise with other countries, including Cameroon, where Yang used to serve as prime minister.
The Vietnamese Party chief and head of State had a separate meeting with Achim Steiner, administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP). Lam praised UNDP’s contributions to Vietnam’s socioeconomic progress over the past five decades.
Steiner said UNDP has plans to support Vietnam in attracting green investment, enhancing climate resilience, and promoting a just energy transition to strengthen its self-sufficiency.
During the meeting with Catherine Russell, executive director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Lam requested UNICEF’s assistance in creating comprehensive plans to safeguard the health, education, and protection of children, particularly in regions devastated by Yagi.
Russell acknowledged Vietnam’s achievements in child protection, care, and education over the years. She praised Vietnam’s effective disaster prevention and response strategies, suggesting they could serve as a model for other countries.
