British Ambassador: Vietnam plays an important role in global efforts to fight cybercrime

British Ambassador to Vietnam Ian Frew affirmed that the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, or the Hanoi Convention, was a “historic moment”, when many countries gathered in Hanoi to demonstrate their commitment to cooperation in the global fight against cybercrime.

On the sidelines of the signing ceremony of the Hanoi Convention on October 25, British Ambassador to Vietnam Ian Frew gave an interview to the Vietnamese press about the role of the Convention, especially in the Vietnam-UK cooperative relationship.

According to Ambassador Ian Frew, the countries signing the Hanoi Convention demonstrate a strong consensus on the importance of multilateral cooperation in the context of increasingly sophisticated and widespread cybercrime. He said that to achieve real progress, countries need to coordinate not only between governments but also with the private sector and civil society. Above all, "it is important to act together".

British Ambassador to Vietnam Ian Frew represented the British government in signing the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, or the Hanoi Convention. (Source: British Embassy in Vietnam)

Regarding bilateral cooperation, the Ambassador said that the UK and Vietnam are maintaining a close cooperative relationship in the field of cybercrime prevention. The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) currently has a representative office in Hanoi and is working with Vietnamese authorities to share information, intelligence and promote deeper multilateral cooperation. The diplomat also assessed that Vietnam has made many important strides and has great potential to develop further on the existing solid foundation.

British Ambassador to Vietnam Ian Frew.

Commenting on the role of the S-shaped country, Ambassador Ian Frew pointed out that the Vietnamese Government has made significant efforts in building policies and capacity to respond to cybercrime, especially in the context of rapidly developing technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital platforms. The Ambassador highly appreciated Vietnam's potential, with the technology and financial services industry growing strongly, while emphasizing the importance of data protection and network security in the digital transformation process.

Affirming that the private sector plays an essential role in implementing the objectives of the Convention, as this is where most of the technical expertise and technological innovation converge, Ambassador Ian Frew stressed that there needs to be regular dialogue between governments, businesses and civil society to jointly develop solutions to new challenges.

Regarding investment cooperation, he said that the UK organized the second UK-Southeast Asia Technology Week in Ho Chi Minh City this year, with the participation of many British businesses operating in the fields of cyber security and financial technology (fintech). A number of cooperation projects between the two countries have been implemented, especially in the prevention of financial crime, an area in which the UK has a lot of experience.

Regarding the project to build an International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, the Ambassador shared that the UK has supported Vietnam in developing ideas and planning, while emphasizing the importance of ensuring cyber security and security protocols in international financial activities.

President Luong Cuong and Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son took a photo with the Heads of Delegations attending the Hanoi Convention Signing Ceremony. (Photo: Thanh Long)

In addition, in the context of rapid development of digital currencies and digital assets, Ambassador Frew believes that the two countries need to increase sharing of experiences, information and coordinated actions to effectively respond to new risks.

"The online space of digital assets and cryptocurrencies is changing very quickly. Therefore, the UK and Vietnam need to share experiences and information so that we can jointly develop appropriate and timely solutions at the international level. Cybercriminals are often one or two steps ahead of us, so we must be proactive and share experiences to be more ready and effective, thereby helping Vietnam safely develop new financial services," the Ambassador pointed out.

In addition, referring to the situation of online fraud crimes, Ambassador Ian Frew also said that the foggy country is witnessing an increase in cross-border fraud cases and has implemented a national strategy to combat fraud, focusing on international cooperation with partner countries, including Vietnam. According to him, the UK has for the first time applied sanctions against individuals and organizations operating fraud centers.

In particular, Ambassador Ian Frew expressed his honor to attend the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi, and believed that Vietnam and international partners will together effectively implement this Convention, contributing to building a safe, trustworthy cyberspace for the common good of the world.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dai-su-anh-viet-nam-dong-vai-tro-quan-trong-trong-no-luc-toan-cau-chong-toi-pham-mang-332177.html