Hanoi Convention Marks New Milestone in Vietnam’s Multilateral Diplomacy

	Hanoi Convention: A Milestone in Multilateral Diplomacy
	Vietnam News Today (Oct. 26): Hanoi Convention: Vietnam’s key role in multilateral cooperation

- When did Vietnam join the negotiation process for the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, also known as the Hanoi Convention, and what significant contributions has it made to the Convention?

Vietnam is entering an era of prosperity, civilization, and thriving development. To achieve this goal, as General Secretary To Lam stated, it is essential to maintain “internal stability and external tranquility”, thereby ensuring a peaceful and stable environment that allows the contry to focus all resources on national development.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Meanwhile, both traditional and non-traditional security threats are ever-present, endangering the security and sovereignty of every nation, with cybercrime emerging as a particularly dangerous challenge that directly impacts the security of all countries. To respond effectively, we need comprehensive solutions at both national and international levels, leveraging global, comprehensive, and collective strength. In this context, in 2019, the United Nations initiated the development of the Convention against Cybercrime, the first comprehensive UN document in this field.

From the outset, Vietnam has actively supported this significant UN initiative. From 2022 to 2024, authorized by the President, Vietnam's inter-agency task force, led by the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with related agencies, actively participated in all eight negotiation rounds of the Convention. On December 24, 2024, the UN General Assembly officially adopted the Convention against Cybercrime.

With the principle of enhancing multilateral diplomacy, Vietnam is committed to actively and proactively shaping international legal frameworks to best safeguard national interests. This is the spirit and approach we brought to the negotiation process of this Convention. We contributed to incorporating fundamental principles into the Convention, ensuring the common interests of all nations in combating cybercrime, including respecting sovereignty, national independence, non-interference in internal affairs, and adherence to international law...

During the negotiations, Vietnam also played a coordinating role in negotiating several key provisions. Vietnam's positive contributions received strong support from the international community. As a result, we now have a comprehensive convention that aligns with national interests and Vietnam’s legal framework.

- Could you share how Vietnam was chosen as the host for the Signing Ceremony of the Convention, and what does Vietnam aim to demonstrate as the host nation?

Vietnam's successful campaign for the UN General Assembly to select Hanoi as the venue for the Signing Ceremony of the UN Convention on Cybercrime, and for this important document to bear the name Hanoi Convention, marks a significant milestone in the country's multilateral diplomacy.

The campaign was launched and actively pursued immediately after the Convention was adopted by the Negotiating Committee and the UN General Assembly in the final three months of 2024. It was a well-organized and determined effort, carried out simultaneously at multiple levels and across numerous capitals — particularly in countries and regions playing key roles in network technology — to build international consensus in support of Vietnam’s hosting proposal

Through hosting this important multilateral event, Vietnam aims to demonstrate its role as a reliable partner, reaffirming its strong efforts and commitment to promoting multilateral cooperation. We will make every effort to ensure that the Signing Ceremony is organized with the utmost solemnity, in accordance with UN standards, and sees the participation of a large number of member states, international organizations, social organizations, and related technology corporations.

As the host nation, we will be among the first countries to sign the Convention. We hope the Signing Ceremony in Hanoi will attract the participation of numerous member states, with at least 40 countries signing, reflecting a strong political commitment for the Convention to be ratified and implemented according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) timeline, projected for 2027.

On this occasion, Vietnam will create a forum to discuss the Convention's key focuses and pillars, supporting interested countries in swiftly completing their internal legal frameworks. Given the unique nature of the Convention against Cybercrime, there will be close coordination between relevant agencies, technology corporations, and cybersecurity researchers to ensure a safe and healthy cyberspace.

I am confident that with our proven capability and experience in many international processes, Vietnam can fully meet the international community's expectations in promoting multilateral cooperation and global collaboration to address major issues of the United Nations and the world, including challenges related to cybercrime.

- Could you share the opportunities and challenges this document presents for Vietnam's international integration in cyberspace?

It can be affirmed that the opportunities for Vietnam in implementing the Hanoi Convention are immense. We all know that no single nation can independently address non-traditional security challenges. By taking on a pioneering role in leading global cooperation against cybercrime, Vietnam stands before the opportunity to leverage international resources, from technology to human resources, to contribute to ensuring a safe, secure, and peaceful environment for national development. Simultaneously, we have the chance to learn from the experiences and modern technologies of other countries and international organizations to effectively combat cybercrime.

Hosting the Signing Ceremony and implementing the Convention is an opportunity for us to open up new avenues of cooperation, not only in combating transnational cybercrime but also in multilateral cooperation across various other fields. Additionally, this is a valuable opportunity to promote the image of a peaceful Vietnam, rich in cultural identity, and its hospitable people to international friends.

However, alongside these great opportunities are numerous challenges that Vietnam and the international community must overcome together. The adoption of the Convention is just the beginning. The crucial task is how nations with goodwill and determination can collaborate in combating cybercrime. The challenge is to find common ground, thereby enhancing connectivity and promoting international cooperation in combating cybercrime.

Moreover, Vietnam must also face its own difficulties, particularly in continuing to improve its institutions, legal system, and capacity to coordinate with international partners, not only nationally but also globally.

The final and most crucial challenge is human resources. Every official and citizen needs to enhance their skills, awareness, capabilities, and resilience to collaborate and share experiences with the international community in combating crime in general and cybercrime in particular.

Thank you very much!

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