Hanoi Convention: Vietnam affirms its role as a global bridge in cyber security cooperation

Photo caption

Scene of the second plenary discussion session. Photo: Phuong Hoa/VNA

In your opinion, what significance does Vietnam's selection as the host country for the signing ceremony of the Hanoi Convention have for Vietnam's international position and role?

Vietnam’s selection as host country for the signing of the UN Convention against Cybercrime is a historic milestone in the country’s diplomatic and technological development. This demonstrates the international community’s confidence in Vietnam’s growing role as a responsible partner in the global digital ecosystem. The signing of the Hanoi Convention not only reinforces Vietnam’s image as a reliable partner in multilateral relations, but also affirms Vietnam’s commitment to join hands in responding to one of the biggest non-traditional security challenges today – cybercrime. At the same time, Vietnam can also play a bridging role between developed and developing countries towards a safer and more inclusive cyberspace.

How do you evaluate Vietnam's role and success in organizing the signing ceremony of the UN Convention against Cybercrime, with the participation of more than 70 countries in the past two days?

First of all, I, like many other international experts, am very optimistic about the outcome of this event. This is a memorable milestone, complementing previous efforts in international cooperation on cybersecurity, especially after the Budapest Convention - which has many similarities but is not really inclusive due to the lack of voice from developing countries.

In that context, Vietnam's hosting is considered very successful, demonstrating the professional organizational capacity and active role of a developing country, but with much progress in digital transformation and ensuring digital sovereignty .

For the Convention to be effective in the long term, in my opinion, there are three key factors: One is to build trust across borders - ensuring that new regulations still respect the data privacy rights of global users; Two is to raise public awareness - because people are the first line of defense against cybercrime, so it is necessary to include cybersecurity education in the curriculum and increase communication at the community level; Three is to promote the participation of the private sector and startups, in addition to state agencies. Three important forces that need to be mobilized include: private enterprises, with infrastructure and data technology capabilities; research institutes, playing the role of risk analysis and policy recommendations; technology startups, bringing innovation and new security solutions.

In addition, the Convention should also take into account the role of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and quantum computing – which present both opportunities and major challenges. It is important to provide guidance on the safe and responsible use of technology, while promoting international cooperation in research and governance of cyberspace.

I believe that if the above factors are focused on, the Hanoi Convention will be a major turning point, opening a period of more substantive cooperation on global cybersecurity, and Vietnam has made an impressive start to this process.

The Hanoi Convention is expected to create a turning point in global cooperation on cyber security. In your opinion, what are the biggest opportunities that the Convention opens up for countries?

The Convention provides the world with a unique opportunity to jointly respond to cyber threats. It promotes the development of unified legal definitions, standards for the exchange of electronic evidence, and mechanisms for cross-border cooperation. In particular, it provides developing countries such as Vietnam and India with access to capacity-building resources, technical expertise, and collective intelligence. This collaboration helps narrow the legal gap between countries, strengthens trust and mutual responsibility, thereby forming the foundation for a more secure and cooperative digital ecosystem.

Can you share more about cooperation between Vietnam and India in preventing and combating cybercrime?

Vietnam and India have a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, in which cooperation on cyber security plays an increasingly important role. Within this framework, the two countries can promote capacity building programs, training in digital investigation - cyber forensics, as well as sharing experiences in data protection and cybercrime investigation.

In addition, Vietnam and India can coordinate to build regional standards on cybersecurity through ASEAN and other multilateral forums, contributing to creating a safe and sustainable cyberspace in the Indo-Pacific region.

In addition, promoting academic exchanges and public-private cooperation between the two countries will also contribute to enhancing joint response capabilities to emerging cybersecurity challenges.

Regarding future prospects, how do you assess the possibility of the Hanoi Convention becoming a global legal framework in the fight against cybercrime, and what role can Vietnam continue to play in the implementation phase?

I believe that the Hanoi Convention has great potential to become a unified platform for international cooperation in preventing and combating cybercrime. However, its success depends on the level of transparency, cooperation and sustained political commitment of the signatory countries.

During the implementation phase, Vietnam can act as a “coordinator and connector”, promoting cooperation among developing countries, sharing its own digital transformation experiences and network governance practices. More importantly, Vietnam can ensure that the Hanoi Convention does not just exist on paper, but is also realized into concrete results: A fair, secure and human-oriented cyberspace.

Thank you!

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/cong-uoc-ha-noi-viet-nam-khang-dinh-vai-tro-cau-noi-toan-cau-trong-hop-tac-an-ninh-mang-20251027062542796.htm