Participating in the Summit of the Future and the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly marks the first multilateral diplomatic activity of Party General Secretary and President To Lam in his new role. It is also the first time a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has directly attended high-level sessions of the UN General Assembly. This is a high level reaffirmation of Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism, and diversification, with active and proactive engagement in comprehensive and deep international integration. It also reflects Vietnam’s deep concern for multilateral cooperation, the global agenda, and Vietnam-UN collaboration.
In his speeches at the conferences, sharing Vietnam’s vision for the future of humanity, Party General Secretary and President To Lam emphasised that peace and stability are the foundations for building the future. In a rapidly changing world, each nation plays an essential role in the grand symphony of the times. At this historical moment, entering a new era of development, progress, and social justice, the world needs to unify its understanding, act together, cooperate closely and effectively, promote adherence to international law and the United Nations Charter, and ensure equal development. He also stressed the importance of establishing a global governance framework with a long-term vision of science and technology and adopting a transformative mindset in shaping the future, placing human interests at the centre.
On the occasion, General Secretary and President To Lam met with the UN Secretary-General; the President of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly; leaders of UNDP, UNICEF, the World Bank (WB), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF); and several national leaders. During these meetings, General Secretary and President To Lam emphasised that Vietnam firmly supports multilateralism with the United Nations which plays a central role in global governance, promoting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. As Vietnam enters a new development era, it will continue to actively, responsibly, and effectively contribute to the international community’s shared efforts to realise a future of peace, stability, prosperity, and sustainability for all people worldwide.
General Secretary and President To Lam's working trip to the United States marked a year since Vietnam and the United States established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership while looking forward to the 30th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations. The General Secretary and President held meetings with the President of the United States, Congress members, representatives of the Communist Party, left-wing organisations, American friends, and the Vietnam Innovation Network. He also delivered a policy speech at Columbia University, attended seminars, and met with experts, scholars, leaders of leading US technology corporations and investment funds.
In these exchanges, General Secretary and President To Lam shared that the Vietnam-US relationship has grown strongly, serving as a model in international relations for efforts to heal and build ties after war. This success results from nearly three decades of building trust, involving multiple generations of leaders, governments, congresses, and citizens of both countries. The General Secretary and President emphasised the affection and support from American communists, friends, and people for Vietnam.
Sharing information about nearly 40 years of Vietnam’s renewal achievements and its development goals in the new era, General Secretary and President To Lam reaffirmed the country’s independent, self-reliant, peaceful, cooperative, and development-focused foreign policy in its relations with all nations, including the United States. He expressed confidence that, under the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Vietnam and the United States will continue to cooperate to develop stable and substantive bilateral relations, bringing more benefits to the people of both countries and contributing to global peace, stability, and prosperity.
The state visit to Cuba marks General Secretary and President To Lam’s first visit to Cuba in his role as head of both the Party and the State, reflecting the high regard of the Party and State for Vietnam-Cuba relations. The Cuban leaders and people warmly welcomed General Secretary and President To Lam and the high-level Vietnamese delegation, demonstrating strong camaraderie and solidarity, and importance of the traditional, special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations. The Party and State of Cuba awarded General Secretary and President To Lam the prestigious José Martí Order.
The Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President held talks with the First Secretary and President of Cuba and had meetings with the Prime Minister and the President of the Cuban National Assembly. He laid a wreath at the José Martí Memorial site, met with representatives of the Cuban friendship associations, and visited the Mariel Special Development Zone. General Secretary and President To Lam and the delegation also offered flowers at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in Havana. During the visit, the two sides signed numerous cooperation agreements.
The leaders of both nations emphasised the special significance of the visit, deeply reflecting the enduring and revolutionary solidarity between the two Parties and countries. They highlighted the importance of enhancing trust and making substantial progress in the Vietnam-Cuba relationship. Both sides expressed their determination to continue bringing the traditional solidarity, special friendship, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba to new heights, ensuring it becomes more comprehensive, substantive, effective, and sustainable. They vowed to move forward together in cooperation and development for the benefit of both peoples and for the betterment of the region and the world.
The successful working trip of General Secretary and President To Lam conveyed an important message to the international community. It showcased Vietnam’s strong vision and commitment to the goals of development and the future of humanity, further strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the United States, while also fostering the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba, ushering in a more practical and profound phase of development.
