New York (VNA) – Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc has addressed the High-level General Debate of the 73rd Sessionof the UN General Assembly, calling on countries to continue highlighting therole of the United Nations and join hands for a world of peace, equality andsustainable development.

At the general debate in New York city, the US,on September 27 afternoon (local time), PM Phuc, on behalf of the Governmentand people of Vietnam, expressed his sincere thanks to the General Assembly forthe minute of silence in memory of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, whorecently passed away.

Taking place from September 25 to October 1, theevent is themed “Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: GlobalLeadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and SustainableSocieties.” It attracted leaders from more than 100 countries.

In his speech, the PM suggested that a conceptof "dual responsibility" be universally upheld. Each nation shalltake additional responsibility for addressing global issues, and eachindividual shall take additional responsibility as a global citizen. Againstthis backdrop, the role of the UN has become all the more important in thecreation of new foundations to more effectively address global challenges.

He said “The UN has truly become a symbol ofglobal solidarity, the embodiment of humanity and progress, and where ouraspiration to strive for a world of peace, prosperity and equality, arerealised.”

Vietnam strongly supports the central role ofthe UN in the multilateral international system, and has actively joinedefforts to realise the fundamental cooperation pillars of the UN:the maintenance of global peace and security, development cooperation, and theprotection and promotion of human rights, he added.

The Government leader noted that once a poor,underdeveloped and food-deficit country, Vietnam has recorded average annualGDP growth of over 6 percent over the last 20 years to become among the world'slargest food exporters. Since 2010, it has become a middle-income developingcountry.

Vietnam enjoys free trading relations withnearly 60 major countries and partners in the world as a result of its membershipof 16 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), some of which are in the final stage ofnegotiations. 

It successfully hosted the 2017 APEC Year, the132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, the 2018 World Economic Forum onASEAN, and the 6th Greater Mekong Sub-region Cooperation Summit. It is workingtowards the 2025 Vision for the ASEAN Community, which aims to strengthen ASEANcentrality in the evolving regional architecture. 

Vietnam is one of the few countries havingaccomplished the UN’s Millennium Development Goals 2015 ahead of schedule,particularly on poverty reduction.

PM Phuc also affirmed that: “It is ourconsistent policy to uphold the UN Charter and the fundamental principles ofinternational law in the settlement of international disputes through peacefulmeans, including in the South China Sea, which should be addressed on the basisof the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the safeguard ofmaritime security and safety and freedom of navigation and over-flight.”

The PM mentioned new opportunities for the unprecedented economic growth in thecontext of the scientific and technological breakthroughs as well asglobalisation, while stressing that the world is facing new and immenseobstacles.

Power politics, the use or threat of force and the rise of unilateral measuresstill threaten global peace and stability, while injustice, inequality, climatechange, pollution and poverty persist, he said.

“No single nation can singlehandedly address the enormous global challenges,”he said, stressing that joint efforts and collaboration of all nations areneeded.  

The international community should uphold “dual responsibility” in which eachnation and individual should take additional responsibility for addressingglobal issues.

Laying stress on the important role of the UN in the creation ofnew foundations to address global challenges in an effective manner, PM Phucsaid that countries worldwide must join hands for a world of peace, equalityand sustainable development.

He expressed his hope that major powers and developed countries will takemeaningful actions, and play an exemplary role in maintaining peace andfostering development. “The United Nations General Assembly should be the heartof cooperation among countries and peoples for peace, equality and sustainabledevelopment”, he said.

He also called for the lifting of the unilateral embargo on Cuba so that it mayequitably and fairly participate in economic and trading relations.

In that spirit, PM Phuc said that the UN should engage instrong and comprehensive reforms towards improving its effectiveness, democracyand transparency to better fulfill its indispensable role in leading efforts toaddress global challenges.

Also, he suggested the UN to strengthen cooperation with regions, particularlythe UN-ASEAN High-level Cooperation mechanism, highlighting the UN more withinASEAN, and ASEAN more within the UN.

As Vietnam has submitted its candidacy for non-permanent membership of the UNSecurity Council for the 2020-2021 term, he thanked the 53 countries of theAsia-Pacific for endorsing Vietnam as the sole candidate of the region. Onbehalf of the Vietnamese Government and people, he wished to receive support ofall member states.

“Vietnam commits to being an active and responsible member of the internationalcommunity and the United Nations”, he said.-VNA