UPDATE: The opening session of the Hanoi Convention signing ceremony begins

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Today, October 25, the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime with the theme "Combating Cybercrime - Sharing Responsibility - Looking to the Future" took place in Hanoi . This is a historic milestone not only for the international community but also affirms the role and position of Vietnam in the international arena.

President Luong Cuong attends the signing ceremony of the Hanoi Convention - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

President Luong Cuong, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son and the Vietnamese delegation attended the signing ceremony of the Hanoi Convention - Photo: VGP/Hai Minh

President Luong Cuong chaired the ceremony with the participation of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and leaders and high-level representatives of about 110 countries and many international organizations, including agencies of the United Nations system, regional organizations, financial institutions, and many experts and scholars in the fields of cybersecurity and international law.

Attending the signing ceremony were Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Ghada Fathy Ismail Waly; Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Party Central Committee's Internal Affairs Commission Phan Dinh Trac; Politburo member, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council - Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics Nguyen Xuan Thang; Politburo member, Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang; Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son.

Before the opening session, President Luong Cuong chaired the official welcoming ceremony and took a group photo with the Heads of Delegations attending the Signing Ceremony and High-Level Meeting of the UN Convention against Cybercrime; and joined the delegates in visiting the photo exhibition introducing the country, people and development achievements of Vietnam, Vietnam's positive contributions to UN activities as well as Vietnam - UN relations.

President Luong Cuong and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will deliver opening speeches, followed by representatives of 60 countries signing the Hanoi Convention at an official ceremony hosted by the UN Office for Legal Affairs (OLA).

President Luong Cuong speaks at the opening session of the Hanoi Convention signing ceremony - Photo: VGP/Hai Minh

Speaking at the signing ceremony, on behalf of the State and People of Vietnam, President Luong Cuong warmly welcomed delegates to Hanoi - the City for Peace, to attend the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime - a historic event, opening an era of global cooperation in cyberspace.

With the theme "Combating cybercrime, sharing responsibility, looking towards the future", today's signing ceremony demonstrates the spirit of international solidarity and the common commitment of countries to build a safe, healthy and sustainable cyberspace.

This event not only marks the birth of a global legal instrument, but also affirms the enduring vitality of multilateralism, where countries overcome differences and are willing to shoulder responsibilities together for the common interests of peace, security, stability and development, President Luong Cuong emphasized.

Cyberspace is both a new space for development and a new front for global security.

In the process of human development, science and technology have helped people to constantly expand their living space, interaction and development. And today, we have entered cyberspace, where every data stream, every technological operation, every digital interaction can have a profound impact on the security, economy, development, and even the future of nations. Cyberspace is both a new space for development and a new front for global security, where opportunities and challenges intertwine, where technological progress must go hand in hand with ethics and responsibility.

Along with the remarkable advances in digital technology, cybercrime activities are increasing rapidly in scale, level and consequences. Cybercrime has become a direct challenge to the security and development of each country and the life and happiness of each citizen in the digital age. Cyber ​​attacks, data theft, information manipulation, and intrusion into essential infrastructure are becoming increasingly sophisticated and organized, causing trillions of dollars in damage to the global economy each year; people's personal information and safety are also being seriously violated, in which children and women are the most vulnerable.

Protecting national sovereignty, interests, security, and cyberspace is not only a requirement of the times, but also a prerequisite for each country to develop rapidly and sustainably, contributing to consolidating peace, stability, and common prosperity.

President Luong Cuong: Hanoi Convention sends 3 clear messages

President Luong Cuong stated that, in the face of the challenges of cybercrime, the Hanoi Convention - a global multilateral convention on combating cybercrime - was born, a vivid demonstration of the spirit of solidarity and the rule of law. After 5 years of negotiations, with dozens of discussion sessions and thousands of comments, today's achievement is the crystallization of perseverance, intelligence and trust between countries, when we choose dialogue instead of confrontation, cooperation instead of division.

That process converges global values, reflects the spirit of consensus, the vitality of multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations. The Hanoi Convention sends three clear messages, with profound and lasting significance to the world.

Firstly, affirming the commitment to shaping order and ensuring safety and security in cyberspace on the basis of international law.

Second, promote the spirit of sharing, companionship and mutual support, because only by cooperating and improving capacity together can we protect a stable and sustainable cyberspace.

Third, emphasizing that the ultimate goal of all efforts is for the people, so that technology serves life, development brings opportunities to all, and no one is left behind in the global digitalization process.

These three messages clearly demonstrate the core spirit of the Hanoi Convention, a convention of the rule of law, of cooperation and of the people. That is also the motto that Vietnam steadfastly pursues in the process of international integration, taking the law as the foundation, cooperation as the driving force, and people as the subject, the center and the goal of all efforts.

President Luong Cuong called on member countries to soon ratify the Convention.

According to the President, for Vietnam, the signing ceremony of the UN Convention against Cybercrime today is not only an honor, but also a responsibility to the international community. With a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, multilateralization and diversification, being a proactive, active member, a reliable and responsible partner of the international community, over the past 5 years, Vietnam has always accompanied the negotiation process of this Convention.

"We are proud that Hanoi - the capital of a country rising from the ashes of war - was chosen as the starting point for creating a peaceful, cooperative and trustworthy cyberspace," the President said. "Vietnam hosting the signing ceremony and being the first country to sign the Hanoi Convention is a testament to our strong commitment to the rule of law, fully implementing international obligations and contributing to strengthening the global legal order in cyberspace."

For the Convention to truly come to life, we need not only political will, but also the resources to implement it. International cooperation in training, technical assistance and technology transfer will help build the capacity of countries, contributing to building a safe and stable cyberspace.

President Luong Cuong called on member states to promptly ratify the Convention so that it can enter into force soon, firmly establishing a fair, inclusive and rules-based digital order.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son welcomed international delegates to the signing ceremony - Photo: VGP/Hai Minh

Hanoi Convention and Vietnam's mark

The event was attended by representatives from nearly 100 countries and more than 100 international and regional organizations.

Taking place from October 25-26, the Program is expected to include, in addition to the opening and closing sessions, the Signing Ceremony and the Summit, 1 plenary discussion session, 1 signing session, 4 high-level discussions and 4 roundtable sessions, 1 Gala dinner, and a Technology Exhibition jointly organized by the Government of Vietnam and the United Nations Secretariat.

This is the first time a Vietnamese location – the capital city of Hanoi – has been linked to a global multilateral treaty in a field of international importance. This choice underscores Vietnam’s international standing, reflecting the international community’s recognition of Vietnam’s contributions to the development of the Convention.

President Luong Cuong and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the signing ceremony of the Hanoi Convention - Photo: VGP/Hai Minh

President Luong Cuong and Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith - Photo: VGP/Hai Minh

After 8 formal negotiation sessions and 5 mid-term meetings lasting about 30 months (February 2022 to August 2024), the United Nations General Assembly officially agreed to adopt the Convention on December 24, 2024. The Convention promises to become an "important universal, globally inclusive legal instrument" for all member states to cooperate in preventing and combating cybercrime.

President Luong Cuong, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and delegates at the signing ceremony of the Hanoi Convention - Photo: VGP/Hai Minh

The Convention consists of 9 chapters and 71 articles, drafted over 4 years, with many important contents such as: criminalizing cybercrimes; international cooperation mechanisms in investigation, extradition, sharing of electronic evidence, confiscation and handling of criminal assets, witness protection, and victim support.

Art program to celebrate the signing ceremony - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The fact that the name of the Hanoi Convention is mentioned in the text of the Convention reflects the recognition of Vietnam's contribution to the development of this document. This shows that hosting the signing ceremony is a concrete step to affirm the position, demonstrate responsibility and promote the cybersecurity initiatives of the Vietnamese Government.

Source: Duc Tuan/Government Electronic Information Portal

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/thoi-su/202510/cap-nhat-bat-dau-phien-khai-mac-le-mo-ky-cong-uoc-ha-noi-37912d1/