Luong Cuong, President of Viet Nam, said that, despite a multitude of challenges, the United Nations, for the past 80 years, has stood as the embodiment of humanity’s aspirations and collective commitment to peace, cooperation and development, undergirded by universal values of human rights, equality, democracy and social progress.  While multilateral cooperation has helped prevent wars, build friendships, foster peace and cooperation, reduce poverty and curb diseases, “we find ourselves in a profoundly changing world, facing unprecedented acute challenges,” with local wars, conflicts, arms races, and the use or threat of force in international relations escalating at an alarming rate, he said.  And because nontraditional security challenges exert heavy tolls on all countries and communities, global governance, trading and economic systems are becoming fragmented and volatile.  “This is precisely the time to stand united and together promote the irreplaceable role of multilateralism and a rules-based international order, with the UN at its heart,” he stressed.

Having endured immense pain and losses from wars, his country treasures peace more than most, as the intertwining of the spirit of amity, compassion and altruism with Viet Nam’s national identity “forms the bedrock for us to overcome previous sufferings, mend old wounds, shelve the past, and look towards the future” for better relations with other countries, he said. Stressing that honouring “the value of peace and driving robust transformation for a sustainable future” is his country’s message for Member States, he noted that the role and primacy of international law as the cornerstone for peace and equal relations among nations must be reaffirmed.  He therefore commended peace agreements between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as between Armenia and Azerbaijan.  He urged the nurturing and practice of a culture of peace through trust building, dialogue and respect for differences.

Welcoming the 22 September recognition of the State of Palestine by some countries, he called on the international community to act to end the Palestinian humanitarian crisis and on the United States to lift its embargoes against Cuba, delisting it from the state sponsors of terrorism.  He underscored the need for “vigorous reforms” to better adapt to the times and respond to the world’s needs.  “Viet Nam welcomes and supports efforts to reform the UN, including the UN80 initiative to build a UN 2.0 that is leaner, more coherent, effective and efficient,” he said.  Further, he spotlighted two mutually reinforcing drivers that are critical to “a sweeping revolution” — the need to build sustainable development models based on digital transformation and the green transition.  To maximize this “dual transformation”, countries must formulate relevant master plans, invest strongly in R&D (research and development), train high-quality human resources, and develop green technology infrastructure”, he noted.

Because the digital era carries in its wake an unprecedented speed, scope and depth of societal transformation alongside rising levels of poverty, unemployment and inequality, it is important to ensure a human-centred process prioritizing the eradication of poverty, provision of full and decent employment as well as social justice and inclusion.  That is why his country hopes the Second World Summit for Social Development in November will deliver important outcomes and add momentum to implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he said, adding that Viet Nam has met the Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule.  It strives to fulfil international commitments on its journey to becoming a modern, industrialized, and upper-middle-income developing country by 2030, and a developed, high-income nation by 2045.