Day: September 23, 2021

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on September 23 proposed that the UN should establish a comprehensive database system on multi-dimensional impacts of sea-level rise in support of global response policy formulation.

The Vietnamese leader made the proposal while addressing a high-level open debate of the UNSC on climate security.

He said the devastating impacts of climate change remain evident in every continent. The consequences may well erupt into geopolitical tension and instability, damaging peace, security, development and prosperity of states and nations.

Against such backdrop, the President proposed three solutions, saying the UNSC and the UN at large should act vigorously.

First, the UNSC must uphold its leading role in establishing mechanisms for assessment, forecast and warning of climate security risks at the early stage and while they are still distant, Phuc said.

Second, he continued, the people’s interest, especially that of vulnerable groups, needs to take centre stage in order to harmoniously address the inseparable relationship between security, development and humanitarian activities.

Third, it is necessary to continue to safeguard the sovereignty, key role and resilience of nations in climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

“We also need to step up international cooperation to supplement and coordinate resources to effectively realise the 2030 SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and other key international treaties,” he added.

Phuc affirmed that Vietnam is determined and strongly committed to take climate action, and develop a green, sustainable and low-carbon economy as pledged at the COP 21.

Vietnam supports all efforts to respond to climate-related challenges at the UNSC, at multilateral forums, and at other cooperation arrangements at the bilateral and regional levels, he said.

Phuc and other delegates shared their deep concern over the adverse impacts of climate change on international peace and security, saying the international community needs to take stronger actions to handle the issue.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said developed countries must uphold their promise to deliver – before COP26 – 100 billion USD in climate finance annually to the developing world.

Climate adaptation and peacebuilding can and should reinforce each other, he said.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Foreign Affairs Committees of the National Assemblies of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam issued a joint statement at their 8th conference on September 23, covering different aspects, including the COVID-19 fight.

Under the joint statement, delegates highly valued achievements the region has recorded in socio-economic development amid COVID-19, as well as the implementation of cooperation agreements.

They shared the view on the significance of promoting cooperation between coordinating committees for socio-economic recovery in the “new normal”, and urgent measures to combat the pandemic.

The delegation heads affirmed efforts to turn the development triangle area into a region of sustainable, inclusive development, peace, stability, harmony, self-resilience, and prosperity.

Prior to the closing ceremony, they looked into challenges to the region, sought solutions to them, and raised cooperation proposals for sustainable development in the region.

The committees called for the sharing of vaccines from countries that have advantages in this regard, and support from developed nations for patent right waivers for COVID-19 vaccines.

They also exchanged experience in law building to create an optimal legal foundation for governments in pandemic containment and economic recovery.

They agreed to hold the 9th conference in Laos next year.

Sanya Praseuth, head of the Lao NA’s Foreign Affairs Committee, highlighted significant cooperation between the governments in the development triangle area.

He suggested the regional legislatures further assist their governments in spurring development and improving people’s living standards, especially in the face of the pandemic.

Sanya Praseuth invited his Cambodian and Vietnamese counterparts to attend the 9th conference.

Vu Hai Ha, Chairman of the Vietnamese NA’s Foreign Affairs Committee, suggested the committees realising orientations set in the joint statement, and continue to support the governments in implementing agreements.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivered a statement at the high-level open debate of the UN Security Council on Climate Security on September 23 (local time) in New York. The following is the full text of his statement.

“Mr. President,

It is my honor to come to this Chamber to attend this Security Council Open Debate on climate security – a topic of strategic importance and immense relevance to our time.

I thank the Secretary General and other briefers for your insightful inputs and recommendations.

Mr. President,

Climate change represents the greatest global challenge of our time, and is shaping the future of mankind. The devastating impacts of climate change remain evident in every continent. Sea level rise threatens to submerge Pacific island states. Severe droughts persist in West Africa and the Horn of Africa. Floods and natural disasters are predominant in Southeast Asia. I must also mention the degradation of biodiversity in South America and the abnormal melting of Antarctic ice caps. Climate change is taking up valuable resources meant for socio-economic development, and worsening poverty, unemployment and social inequality.

We are also witnessing how climate change is igniting disputes over natural resources between populations. They are displacing tens of millions from their homes to seek new livelihood, and triggering trans-border security threats of ecology, environment, food and water resources.

These consequences may well erupt into geopolitical tension and instability, damaging peace, security, development and prosperity of states and nations. This is truly a “code red” and a war without gunfire, so to speak, that causes economic damage and losses in lives no less dire than actual wars and conflicts.

Against such backdrop, I wish to share with you three points that I think we should act vigorously:

First, the UNSC must uphold its leading role in establishing mechanisms for assessment, forecast and warning of climate security risks at the early stage and while they are still distant. This will help us proactively outline effective response strategies and measures. Conflict prevention, peace-keeping missions, and humanitarian assistance and post-conflict reconstruction efforts under the auspices of the UNSC must include climate security in a proper manner.

In this connection, I wish to propose that the UN should establish a comprehensive database system on multi-dimensional impacts of sea-level rise in support of global response policy formulation.

Second, the people’s interest, especially that of vulnerable groups, needs to take center stage if we are to harmoniously address the inseparable relationship between security, development and humanitarian activities. Viet Nam strongly supports the full implementation of Resolutions 2532 and 2573 of the UNSC in order to achieve a global ceasefire as early as possible, and protect civilians and critical infrastructure in areas of armed conflicts.

Third, we need to continue to safeguard the sovereignty, key role and resilience of nations in climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. We also need to step up international cooperation to supplement and coordinate resources to effectively realize the 2030 SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and other key international treaties.

We must resolve to cut greenhouse emissions, in which developed countries should take the lead. Ample resources should also be set aside to provide developing countries with assistance in financing, technologies and know-how, so as to ensure that no country is left behind in the common fight against climate change.

Mr. President,

Viet Nam is one of the countries hardest hit by climate change. Successive natural disasters have caused us great losses in life and property. The Mekong Delta, the heart of Viet Nam’s agricultural production, is witnessing a record episode of droughts and saline intrusion, jeopardizing the livelihood and everyday life of 20 million people, as well as food security of the entire country and region.

For this reason, to realize its aspiration and vision for national development, and perform its duty to the international community, Viet Nam is determined and strongly committed to take climate action, and develop a green, sustainable and low-carbon economy as pledged at the COP 21.

Viet Nam supports all efforts to respond to climate-related challenges at the UNSC, at multilateral forums, and at other cooperation arrangements at the bilateral and regional levels. We hope to continue to receive assistance in resources and policy advice from international friends so as to better fulfill our commitments.

I am convinced that through international commitment and solidarity, all countries will take bold actions towards greener and more sustainable for the future.

Thank you!”.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Government and people of Oman have presented 300,000 USD of aid to people in flood-hit central provinces of Vietnam.

Addressing a ceremony to hand over the token of the aid grant on September 23, Omani Ambassador to Vietnam Saleh Mohamed Ahmed Al Saqri expressed his sympathy over human and asset losses caused by flooding in recent years in Vietnam’s central provinces, and said he hopes that the assistance will help them overcome difficulties and quickly stabilise their lives.

He also voiced his hope that the Oman-Vietnam friendship and cooperation will continue to flourish.

After the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Quang Hieu hosted a reception for the Omani Ambassador, during which they discussed measures to bolster the bilateral relations in the coming timeHieu asked the Omani side to continue to support Vietnam in the battle against COVID-19.

The Omani diplomat said he believes that the Vietnamese Government and people will soon bring COVID-19 under control and restore economic development.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi always gives the top priority to developing friendship and cooperation with Russian localities, including Moscow, contributing to consolidating and strengthening the special relations between the two countries, a municipal leader has said.

At a reception for Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Bezdetko Gennady Stepanovich on September 23, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung said the city aims to actively ad proactively integrate into the world, prioritises economic integration, and focuses on realising its commitments.

Dung expressed his wish that Russia will continue to help Vietnam with COVID-19 vaccines, treatment drugs and other medical supplies to serve the pandemic combat.

He also called on Russia to assist Vietnam in vaccine access and speed up the transfer of COVID-19 vaccine production technology.

For his part, the ambassador spoke highly of cooperation between Russia and Vietnam and Hanoi in particular.

Russia and Vietnam will soon reach a programme on COVID-19 vaccine supply and transfer of vaccine production technology in the Southeast Asian nation, he affirmed.

Russia will support Hanoi’s authorities in various sectors, Stepanovich promised, adding that Russia wishes to tighten and expand cooperation between its localities and the Vietnamese capital city.

Source: Vietnam News Agency