Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Đỗ Hùng Việt at the session reviewing Việt Nam's National Report for the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has approved Việt Nam's National Report under the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), with the country accepting a record 84.7 per cent of recommendations, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Đỗ Hùng Việt has said.

In an interview on the UPR outcomes, Việt attributed this remarkable achievement to meticulous preparations by the Vietnamese Government.

He said at the September 27 session, Việt Nam announced its decision to accept 271 out of the 320 recommendations – the highest percentage across all the four UPR cycles. This, he said, underscored Việt Nam’s unwavering commitment to the UPR process and its dedication to protecting and promoting human rights.

The session was attended by representatives of around 90 countries, international organisations and NGOs, with the vast majority of delegates lauding Việt Nam’s efforts and openness. The country provided updates on recent progress, particularly in legal reforms and socio-economic development, aimed at bolstering human rights.

The Vietnamese delegation promptly refuted wrongful allegations and unverified information presented by a minority of NGOs during the session, underlining the country’s ongoing work to create an environment that allows citizens to actively engage in shaping legal policies.

According to Việt, a poignant moment came when countries expressed solidarity with and sympathies for the Vietnamese people following the recent devastating Typhoon Yagi. Many also praised Việt Nam’s engagement in the UPR dialogue at the UNHRC in Geneva in 2024, a year marking the 70th anniversary of the historic Điện Biên Phủ victory and the signing of the Geneva Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina.

Some speakers highlighted Việt Nam’s long struggle for self-determination and its path toward independence, freedom and happiness, seeing this as a foundation for the protection and promotion of human rights in the country today.

Countries welcomed Việt Nam’s acceptance of a large number of recommendations as reflecting its strong commitment to the UPR process and its broader efforts to protect and promote human rights.

They acknowledged Việt Nam’s achievements in propelling sustainable development to better ensure human rights, adopting a multidimensional approach to poverty reduction, advancing gender equality and protecting vulnerable groups. Additionally, some nations highlighted Vietnam’s valuable experience in effectively engaging with the UPR process and encouraged the country to continue sharing its best practices with others.

The comprehensive, objective and reality-based assessments of Việt Nam demonstrate the international community's positive interest and deep understanding of the country's people, history, culture and development process, said Việt.

Looking ahead, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will collaborate with relevant ministries and agencies to develop a comprehensive plan for implementing the accepted recommendations. This will include specific responsibilities, progress monitoring mechanisms and a mid-term review.

Việt Nam, the official stressed, will continue cooperating with the UN, international partners and friendly countries to pool additional resources, ensuring optimal implementation of these recommendations. — VNS