HCMC – The United Nations today, October 25, held the opening ceremony of the Signing Ceremony and the High-Level Conference of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, known as the Hanoi Convention, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi City.
The event, themed “Countering Cybercrime – Sharing Responsibility – Securing our Future,” was chaired by State President Luong Cuong, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and senior representatives from around 110 countries and international organizations in attendance. Participants included officials from UN agencies, regional and financial institutions, and experts in cybersecurity and international law.
Prior to the opening session, President Luong Cuong hosted an official welcoming ceremony and a group photo with heads of delegations, followed by a visit to a photo exhibition organized by the Vietnam News Agency showcasing the nation’s people, development achievements, and its contributions to UN initiatives.
President Luong Cuong and Secretary-General Guterres delivered opening remarks before representatives from 60 countries took part in the official signing ceremony, administered by the UN Office of Legal Affairs (OLA).
The UN Cybercrime Convention, initiated in 2019, was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 24, 2024, after five years of negotiations. Comprising nine chapters and 71 articles, the convention provides a comprehensive legal framework for preventing and combating cybercrime while safeguarding human rights. It adapts traditional criminal investigation methods to the digital era and strengthens international cooperation in addressing global cyber threats.
Throughout the negotiation process, Vietnam played an active role by organizing international workshops in collaboration with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Vietnamese initiatives, such as support mechanisms for developing nations and integrating climate change issues, received strong backing from the international community.
The UN’s decision to hold the signing ceremony in Hanoi marks a milestone in Vietnam’s multilateral diplomacy and nearly five decades of Vietnam–UN partnership. This is the first time a location in Vietnam has been associated with a global multilateral treaty, underscoring the country’s growing international standing and its commitment to promoting multilateralism and digital governance.
As part of the two-day event, a plenary session co-chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Secretary-General Guterres will be held, alongside high-level bilateral meetings and thematic discussions on topics such as protecting citizens in the digital transformation era, global cooperation against online fraud, and enhancing capacity as a pillar of global cybercrime cooperation.
