Vietnam highlights right to use nuclear energy, outer space for peaceful purposes
Minister Counselor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), has emphasised the need to support all the three pillars of the nuclear issue, namely disarmament, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Hanoi (VNA)– Minister Counselor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative ofVietnam to the United Nations (UN), has emphasised the need to support all the threepillars of the nuclear issue, namely disarmament, non-proliferation ofnuclear weapons, and the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Addressing the UN Disarmament Commission (UNDC)’s annual session on the nuclearweapons and outer space opened on April 4 in New York, Thoa called on countriesto fully implement the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT),and soon sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons(TPNW).
She stated that it is necessary to further uphold the principles of disarmamentthat were agreed upon at the UN General Assembly’s first special session on disarmament - an important foundation for the goal of complete and thoroughdisarmament.
Minister Counselor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN) (Photo: VNA)
As a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s Board of Governors, Vietnam is actively promoting the application of nucleartechnology for peaceful purposes, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, andensuring nuclear safety and security, Thoa said.
Vietnam will co-host a workshop of the ASEAN Regional Forum on this field inHanoi in late April, she added.
Regarding the use of the outer space, Thoa stressedthat access to the outer space isan inalienable right of allcountries in the world, regardless of their development level. The explorationand use of the outer space must serve peaceful purposes and the benefit of humanity,in accordance with basic principles of international law and the UN Charter.
Speakingat the session, which will last until April 21, UN Under-Secretary-General of DisarmamentAffairs Izumi Nakamitsu voiced concern over the increasing nuclear risks that have not been seen since the Cold War, as well as the growing serious challenges to the safety and security ofactivities beyond the outer space.
She called for an easing in escalatingtensions and the promotion of dialogue, and urged countries to activelydiscuss and provide specific recommendations and solutions to these issues./.
Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Tra, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), re-affirmed Vietnam's consistent stance on supporting all efforts towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation at the annual meeting of the UN Disarmament Commission (UNDC) opened in New York on April 5.
Vietnam called for a comprehensive approach in addressing challenges relating to climate change, environment and bio-diversity, at a meeting of the Economic and Financial Committee of the United Nations General Assembly’s 77th session on October 10.
Vietnam pledged to continue ensuring and promoting human rights at a meeting of the United Nations Committee on Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Issues, as part of the UN General Assembly’s 77th session on October 19.
Minister Counselor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, has called for a comprehensive and all-society approach to sustainable waste management.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Participants at the session (Photo: VNA) 
Minister Counselor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN) (Photo: VNA) 
