Hanoi Convention: Affirming Vietnam's leadership role in digital governance and strong commitment to multilateralism

The United Nations (UN) Convention against Cybercrime, or the Hanoi Convention, with the theme “Combating Cybercrime – Sharing Responsibility – Looking Forward” will take place in Hanoi on October 25-26. On this occasion, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird shared with The World and Vietnam Newspaper about the role of the Convention as well as Vietnam’s position on the global cybersecurity map.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird. (Source: Australian Embassy in Vietnam)

Dear Ambassador, the signing of the UN Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi is an important milestone. In your opinion, what is the greatest significance of this event, not only for the global effort to prevent and combat cybercrime, but also for Vietnam’s role in the international arena?

The signing of the UN Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi, or the Hanoi Convention, marks a landmark moment in global efforts to address the growing threat of cybercrime. In today’s interconnected world , cyber threats transcend borders, impacting governments, businesses and individuals. The Convention plays a key role in promoting an open, secure, stable and accessible cyberspace for all.

The Hanoi Convention also complements existing UN frameworks on responsible state conduct and affirms the importance of multilateralism in addressing transnational challenges. In particular, the Convention’s emphasis on the protection of human rights and data privacy is crucial to ensuring that efforts to combat cybercrime do not undermine fundamental freedoms.

In addition, Vietnam’s hosting of the Convention’s signing ceremony is a testament to Vietnam’s growing leadership role in digital governance as well as its strong commitment to multilateralism, which Australia welcomes and has supported for many years. This was clearly demonstrated by the fact that Joint Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Matt Thistlethwaite represented Australia in Hanoi to sign the Convention.

In the current context, the Hanoi Convention is a timely and necessary step towards a safer digital future. It is not only a legal document but also a symbol of global solidarity in protecting the integrity of cyberspace for all.

The signing ceremony of the Hanoi Convention will take place from October 25-26 with the theme “Combating Cybercrime - Sharing Responsibility - Looking to the Future”. What do you think about the message of the theme, especially in the context of the world facing new challenges from artificial intelligence and digital technology?

The theme “Fighting Cybercrime – Sharing Responsibility – Looking Towards the Future” proposed by Vietnam for the Hanoi Convention Signing Ceremony is both global and has profound practical significance.

The theme demonstrates a holistic approach to the reality that cyber threats know no borders and no country can respond alone. At the same time, it emphasizes the shared responsibility in which governments, international organizations, the private sector and civil society need to work closely to build a safer and more trustworthy digital space.

Australia fully supports this theme, which fits with our strategic approach to combating cybercrime and promoting international cooperation, demonstrating Vietnam’s leadership in the region. Hosting such a global event and delivering such a visionary message demonstrates Vietnam’s genuine commitment to international cooperation. Australia is proud to stand with Vietnam in this effort.

The Hanoi Convention complements existing UN frameworks on responsible behaviour of states and strengthens the role of multilateralism in addressing transnational challenges. (Photo: Trung Tran)

Cooperation between Vietnam and Australia in the field of cyber security in recent years has been assessed as increasingly substantive. According to the Ambassador, what are the most outstanding results that clearly demonstrate the spirit of "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" between the two countries in responding to cyber challenges?

Vietnam’s participation in the Hanoi Convention negotiations is completely consistent with the framework of the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), signed in March 2024. In it, the two countries commit to strengthening cooperation in the fields of digital transformation and innovation, cyber security and critical technology, regional and international law and governance, peacekeeping and participation in multilateral mechanisms.

A typical example is the launch of the Vietnam-Australia Strategic Technology Centre in June 2025. This will become a dynamic hub promoting innovation, digital connectivity and cyber security, demonstrating the substantive cooperation between the two countries.

In addition, during her visit to Vietnam on August 20, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in cyber security and critical technology issues. This document creates a basis for cooperation in information sharing, cyber incident response, sustainable human resource development and enhanced coordination at multilateral forums.

In addition, the Hanoi Convention, as a UN treaty, further strengthens the two countries' shared commitment to respecting international law, promoting a safe and inclusive digital environment, and supporting multilateral mechanisms to address global challenges.

In particular, Australia also supported Vietnam in successfully organizing the signing ceremony, including sponsoring the advance working group of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), supporting the delegation of Pacific Island countries to attend, and coordinating with RMIT University to organize the side event "Cybercrime Hackathon".

Australia is one of the countries with a developed system of policies and laws on preventing and combating cybercrime. Could the Ambassador share some outstanding experiences or models that Vietnam, as well as other countries in the region, can refer to in the process of implementing the Hanoi Convention?

It can be said that Australia has built a tight legal system with regulations on computer, telecommunications and financial crimes in the Criminal Code, including crimes dependent on technology (such as computer intrusion, denial of service attacks) and crimes supported by technology (such as online fraud, child abuse and exploitation).

Since the early 2000s, Australia has been continuously updating its legal framework to respond to new threats, including criminalising the sharing of private images without consent, which was added from September 2024.

Australia actively participates in international forums such as the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime Committee and the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, to promote cooperation, support countries in developing legal frameworks on cybercrime and reduce the possibility of criminals exploiting the transnational nature of cyberspace.

We believe that a multi-stakeholder, multi-stakeholder approach, combining law enforcement, criminal justice policy, and cooperation with businesses and civil society organizations, is key to improving the capacity to detect, prevent and respond to cybercrime effectively.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/cong-uoc-ha-noi-khang-dinh-vai-tro-lanh-dao-cua-viet-nam-trong-quan-tri-so-va-cam-ket-manh-me-voi-chu-nghiem-da-phuong-331897.html