HCMC – Vietnam has been elected to chair the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), with Ambassador Do Hung Viet appointed as conference president by member states.
The conference opened on April 27 at the United Nations in New York, bringing together representatives from 191 NPT member states and international organizations, reported local media.
Held under the theme of strengthening the treaty’s integrity and effectiveness in a changing global security environment, the conference will review and promote the implementation of the NPT’s three pillars: nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
In his opening remarks as president, Viet said Vietnam was honored by the unanimous support of member states. He pledged to lead transparent and inclusive discussions and work closely with countries to achieve substantive outcomes that reinforce the treaty’s role.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the global community risks overlooking nuclear threats amid declining strategic trust, rising arms competition, and weakening arms control mechanisms. He reaffirmed the NPT as the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation regime, while noting it faces serious challenges requiring renewed commitments.
Participants at the general debate expressed concern over a complex global security landscape, including escalating conflicts, and called for stronger adherence to the treaty to prevent nuclear risks.
Vietnam’s delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, reaffirmed the country’s support for the NPT as a key pillar of international security. Vietnam urged countries to fully implement all three pillars in a balanced manner.
Hanoi emphasized that nuclear-armed states bear special responsibility to fulfill disarmament commitments, avoid threats of force, and enhance confidence-building and strategic dialogue. It also called for advancing related mechanisms, including the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and broader participation in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Vietnam highlighted the importance of ensuring developing countries’ rights to access peaceful nuclear technology for socio-economic progress, through greater international cooperation, technology transfer, and sustainable financing.
The country also outlined its domestic efforts, including the adoption of a national strategy on the development and application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes through 2035, with a vision to 2050, focusing on sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, environmental protection, and energy security.
The four-week conference, running until May 22, will feature discussions among member states aimed at producing a balanced and substantive outcome document to guide the treaty’s next review cycle.
