United Nations Resident Coordinator in Việt Nam Pauline Tamesis.

HÀ NỘI — United Nations Resident Coordinator in Việt Nam Pauline Tamesis has emphasised that Việt Nam's participation at the Summit of the Future, the highlight of the high-level segment of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79), is crucial.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on the occasion of Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm’s upcoming trip to the US for the summit, the UNGA 79, and working sessions in the country, Tamesis said the summit is a pivotal moment in global cooperation.

“We are facing challenges that our current international systems – designed decades ago – are simply not equipped to handle. From climate change and widening inequality to the rapid development of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI)”, she explained.

“The world has changed, but our institutions have not properly kept up. The summit aims to overhaul these outdated structures, creating a new framework for global governance that is inclusive, effective, and ready for the 21st century. It is about building systems that can solve the problems we face today, not the ones we faced almost 80 years ago when the UN was established.”

She held that as a middle-income country, Việt Nam has a vested interest in reshaping global financial structures to ensure access to affordable financing for sustainable development.

Việt Nam adds its voice and leadership to the critical discussions on climate change – a timely reminder of a developing country’s vulnerability to climate change, especially soon after Typhon Yagi brought immense damage to its most vulnerable populations, Tamesis stressed.

By participating actively, the country can advocate for reforms that prioritise developing countries and contribute to building more inclusive and responsive international institutions.

The UN Resident Coordinator said the summit likewise offers Việt Nam a platform to collaborate with global leaders, ensuring that its perspectives and challenges are addressed in the pursuit of a more just and sustainable future. It is an important opportunity for Việt Nam to lead and contribute to global conversations and follow-up actions.

She said in the pre-recorded remarks by Party General Secretary and State President Lâm for the Summit of the Future, he recognised that the “historic summit will bring about new thinking and new modus operandi for the world’s future”.

He also recognised that, “it presents great opportunity for the United Nations and multilateralism to reaffirm their irreplaceable values in face of today’s tremendous challenges.”

He identified that “transformations must begin with advances in science, technology and innovation” and that “the United Nations must take the lead in establishing legal frameworks for information sharing and assisting countries in safely and securely developing groundbreaking technologies.”

Equally noteworthy is the proposal for the “establishment of a global green technology platform where ASEAN and other regional organisations can share their experiences and promote green technology development.”

Tamesis noted that with Việt Nam's active contributions to the summit and collective efforts to strengthen peace, cooperation and international solidarity with a view to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN in Việt Nam is confident that together, “we can achieve the summit’s goals and lay a solid foundation for future generations”.

Regarding the UNGA 79, she said the call for reimagining and strengthening multilateral cooperation is at the heart of the session. The focus is on using collective resources to advance peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.

Sustainable development takes centre stage with a renewed push for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in supporting vulnerable regions. The message is clear: “we must combat poverty and inequality while safeguarding the environment”.

It will also touch upon peace and security, human rights and dignity, technological innovation, economic growth and equity, while highlighting youth empowerment.

The session calls for institutional reforms, pushing for updates to the UN system itself, including the security council and financing mechanisms, to better reflect the realities of today’s global challenges. It is about renewing the global commitment to tackle these challenges together, with an eye toward a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future.

Asked about the urgency of solving global problems, especially climate change, the UN official said “we are amid ‘runaway climate chaos’ where rising sea levels, extreme weather events and environmental degradation are accelerating at an alarming pace”.

Typhoon Yagi and its aftermath is estimated to cause US$1.6 billion in damage for Việt Nam with a projected 0.15% reduction in its GDP for 2024.

“If we don’t act swiftly, this chaos could lead to irreversible damage, threatening ecosystems, food security, health, and economic stability across the globe,” she said.

Emphasising young people’s role in global mobilisation for a sustainable future, she said Vietnam is quite fortunate as young people comprise 21 per cent of the national population – over 21 million people – the highest proportion of youth in the country’s history.

Việt Nam should continue to enable the youth to bring their ideas, expertise and energy to decision making platforms locally and globally, she suggested.

The UN is committed to ensuring that youth are meaningfully engaged at every level of decision-making, making sure their voices don’t just echo in the room but actually shape policies, she affirmed.

According to a communiqué of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lâm and his spouse and a high-ranking delegation of Việt Nam will attend the United Nations Summit of the Future and the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79), hold working sessions in the US and pay a state visit to Cuba from September 21-27. The visit to Cuba will be made at the invitation of First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz Canel Bermudez and his spouse. — VNS