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Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang, Ambassador of Vietnam to Austria, Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN) and international organizations in Vienna, affirmed that the Hanoi Convention is both an important international legal document and a strategic mark of Vietnamese diplomacy in the 21st century.

Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang (4th from left) with representatives of UNODC, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the seminar "Towards Hanoi: Signing Ceremony of the UN Convention against Cybercrime" with European countries held on March 26 at the UN Headquarters in Vienna (Austria). (Photo: NVCC)

Could you please assess the significance and importance of the UN Convention against Cybercrime, with the theme "Combating Cybercrime - Sharing Responsibility - Looking Towards the Future" in the current international context?

In the context of the world witnessing rapid and complex changes, non-traditional security issues, especially cybercrime, are becoming the most prominent challenge for every country. The explosion of artificial intelligence, big data and digital technology has caused cybercrime to increase in scale, sophistication and scope of influence, not only threatening national security but also directly affecting business operations and people's lives.

In that context, the Hanoi Convention was born as the first global legal framework of the United Nations to prevent and combat cybercrime, providing a forum for comprehensive and equal cooperation between countries, including those with different values ​​and legal systems.

This is a document adopted by consensus, with the participation of more than 150 countries in negotiations and the contributions of many large technology corporations and international organizations in the world, demonstrating the common determination of the international community to deal with the growing challenge of cybersecurity.

What message does Vietnam's hosting of the Convention signing ceremony in Hanoi - the City for Peace - send to the international community, Ambassador?

The fact that Vietnam was chosen as the host of the opening ceremony for the signing of the Convention is a great honor for Vietnam, and at the same time demonstrates the important recognition of the United Nations and the international community for Vietnam's position, prestige and organizational capacity.

The signing ceremony was held in Hanoi - the City for Peace, with profound symbolic meaning, sending a message of a peaceful, cooperative, proactive, active and responsible Vietnam in contributing to shaping the international legal order for a safe, healthy, people-centered cyberspace, for the sustainable development of humanity.

At the same time, hosting this important event is also a concrete step to implement major policies of the Party and State, especially Resolution 59 of the Politburo on international integration, Conclusion No. 125 of the Secretariat on strengthening the implementation of Directive 25 on promoting and elevating multilateral diplomacy to 2030, Resolution 57 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation.

Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang and Ms. Ghada Waly, UN Under-Secretary-General, Executive Director of UNODC and Director of the UN Office in Vienna (Austria). (Photo: NVCC)

Could you please share Vietnam's recent efforts in promoting international cooperation in preventing cybercrime?

In recent years, Vietnam has made remarkable progress in enhancing international cooperation in preventing and combating cybercrime, demonstrated in many aspects.

We have signed and implemented many cooperation agreements on cyber security, digital transformation and high-tech crime prevention with comprehensive strategic partners such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, France, India, and closely coordinated with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the ASEAN Police Association (ASEANAPOL) and partners within the UN framework in this field.

Vietnam is one of the countries that actively participated in the negotiation process of the Convention with many substantive and constructive contributions from the beginning. In order to ensure compliance and full implementation of commitments under the Convention immediately after the Convention comes into effect, Vietnam is urgently completing the national legal framework, strengthening specialized forces, and promoting the training of high-quality cyber security human resources.

These efforts help Vietnam not only improve its national capacity in preventing cybercrime, but also make practical contributions to the common security and stability of the region and the world.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Austria, the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations and international organizations in Vienna highly appreciated and thanked UNODC for its close cooperation and active participation in the preparation and organization of the signing ceremony of the Convention against Cybercrime, and pledged to continue to accompany UNODC in promoting the signing and ratification of the Convention, contributing to the early entry into force and effective implementation of the Convention.

Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang and the interdisciplinary delegation at the Seminar updating on the preparation for the Convention Signing Ceremony in Hanoi on March 26. (Photo: NVCC)

How does the Ambassador assess the significance of this important multilateral imprint of Vietnam, especially in the effort to change the mindset more strongly from "participation" to "proactive participation", raising the level of multilateral diplomacy in the new development stage of the country?

The signing ceremony of the UN Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi is a multilateral milestone of special significance, demonstrating a new development in Vietnam's foreign policy thinking and actions.

While in the past we mainly “actively participated” in international processes, now Vietnam has proactively participated, contributed and assumed a central role, helping to shape new global standards. This is a clear demonstration of the strong change in foreign policy thinking in the country’s new era - when Vietnam confidently integrates, proactively contributes and affirms its increasingly high position in the international community.

Hosting this global event also demonstrates Vietnam’s growing prestige, capacity and role in multilateral frameworks, while affirming Vietnam as a reliable destination for international initiatives. The Hanoi Convention will become a symbol of multilateralism and international cooperation in the digital age, contributing to expanding Vietnam’s network of partners in digital transformation, cybersecurity, innovation and enhancing the ability to protect national sovereignty in cyberspace.

It can be said that the Hanoi Convention is both an important international legal document and a strategic mark of Vietnamese diplomacy in the 21st century - a symbol of an active, proactive, creative and responsible Vietnam, contributing to peace, security and sustainable development of the world, while reflecting the strong aspiration of the nation to rise in the new period of development.

Thank you very much, Ambassador!

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/diem-den-tin-cay-cua-cac-sang-kien-quoc-te-332092.html