Signing the Hanoi Convention: An important milestone in Vietnam's multilateral diplomacy

Vietnam always considers fighting cybercrime as one of the priorities in its national security policy, and actively participates with the international community in the fight against cybercrime.

The United Nations Convention on Cybercrime was adopted by consensus by the United Nations General Assembly on 24 December 2024 (New York time, USA).

Accordingly, the Convention was opened for signing in Hanoi on October 25-26 and is called the "Hanoi Convention." For the first time, a location in Vietnam has been listed and associated with a global multilateral treaty related to a field of great concern to the international community.

On this occasion, Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang, Head of the Vietnamese negotiating delegation, shared with reporters of VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper about Vietnam hosting the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime.

Vietnam proactively participates in shaping the international legal framework.

- Mr. Deputy Minister, when did Vietnam join the negotiation process of the Convention against Cybercrime, also known as the Hanoi Convention, and what important contents has it contributed to the Convention?

Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang: Vietnam is entering an era of striving to develop into a rich, civilized and prosperous country. To achieve this goal, as General Secretary To Lam said, the key is to maintain “warmth inside and peace outside,” “peace inside and quiet outside,” and maintain a peaceful and stable environment to concentrate all resources on national development.

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Meanwhile, traditional and non-traditional security risks are always present, threatening the security and sovereignty of each country, in which cybercrime has emerged as a particularly dangerous challenge, directly affecting the security of all countries. To respond effectively, we need synchronous solutions at both national and international levels, promoting global, comprehensive, and all-people strength. In that context, in 2019, the United Nations initiated the development of the Convention on Cybercrime, the first comprehensive document of the United Nations in this field.

From the beginning, Vietnam has actively supported this important initiative of the United Nations. During the years from 2022 to 2024, authorized by the President, the Inter-sectoral Working Group of the Government of Vietnam with the core being the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with relevant agencies proactively and actively participated in all 8 rounds of negotiations of the Convention. By December 24, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly officially adopted the Convention against Cybercrime.

With the motto of raising the level of multilateral diplomacy, Vietnam always determines to actively and proactively participate in shaping international legal frameworks to best ensure the interests of the country. That is the spirit and motto of our participation in the negotiation process of this Convention.

We have contributed to the Convention's inclusion of basic principles, ensuring the common interests of all countries in cooperation against cybercrime, including: respect for sovereignty, national independence, non-interference in internal affairs and compliance with international law...

During the negotiation process, Vietnam also took on the role of coordinator in negotiating a number of important provisions. Vietnam's active contributions received high support from the international community. As a result, we have a complete convention, ensuring compliance with Vietnam's national interests and legal framework.

Ready to face the challenge of cybercrime

- Could you please tell us how Vietnam was chosen as the venue for the signing ceremony of the Convention and what does Vietnam want to express through its role as host country?

Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang: Vietnam's successful campaign to have the United Nations General Assembly choose Hanoi as the venue for the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime and for this important document to be named the Hanoi Convention is an important milestone in our country's multilateral diplomacy.

Violations will be punished by the Department of Cyber ​​Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention. (Photo: VNA)

The advocacy process was launched and continuously implemented immediately after the Convention was adopted by the Negotiating Committee and the United Nations General Assembly in the last three months of 2024. This is a methodical and drastic advocacy campaign, implemented simultaneously at many levels and in many capitals, especially in countries and regions with key roles in the field of network technology, to ensure international consensus for Vietnam's hosting proposal.

By organizing this important multilateral event, Vietnam wishes to demonstrate its role as a reliable partner, continuing to affirm its efforts and strong commitment to promoting multilateral cooperation. We will make every effort to ensure that the signing ceremony will be held in the most solemn manner, in accordance with United Nations standards, ensuring the participation of many member states, international organizations, social organizations and related technology corporations.

As the host country, our country will be among the first countries to sign the Convention. We hope that the signing ceremony in Hanoi will attract a large number of member countries, with at least 40 signatory countries, demonstrating strong political commitment so that the Convention can be ratified and put into effect soon according to the roadmap planned by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 2027.

General Luong Tam Quang, Minister of Public Security of Vietnam and Senior Lieutenant General Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Cuba witnessed the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement between the Department of Cyber ​​Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention and Control, Ministry of Public Security and the General Department of Counterintelligence, Ministry of Interior of Cuba in the field of cyber security. (Photo: Pham Kien/VNA)

On this occasion, Vietnam will create a forum to discuss the key points and pillars of the Convention, supporting interested countries to soon complete their internal legal framework. With the special nature of the Convention on combating cybercrime, there will be close coordination between competent authorities, technology corporations and cybersecurity researchers, to ensure a safe and healthy cyberspace.

I believe that with its proven mettle and experience in many international processes, Vietnam can fully meet the expectations of the international community in promoting multilateral and global cooperation to solve major problems of the United Nations and the world, including challenges of cybercrime.

- Could you please tell us about the opportunities and challenges of this document for Vietnam's international integration in cyberspace?

Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang: It can be affirmed that the opportunities for Vietnam in the process of implementing the Hanoi Convention are enormous. We all know that no single country can solve non-traditional security challenges on its own. When taking on the pioneering role, leading global cooperation in combating cybercrime, Vietnam has the opportunity to take advantage of international resources, from technology to human resources, to contribute to ensuring a safe, secure and peaceful environment for the country's development. At the same time, we also have the opportunity to learn from experience and modern technology from countries and international organizations to effectively respond to cybercrime.

The seminar "Road to Hanoi: Opening Ceremony for the Signing of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime" was co-chaired by Vietnam and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (Photo: VNA)

Hosting the signing and implementation of the Convention is an opportunity for us to open up many new directions of cooperation, not only in the field of preventing and combating transnational cybercrime but also in multilateral cooperation in many other fields. Besides, this is also a valuable opportunity for us to promote the image of a peaceful Vietnam, a Vietnamese culture rich in identity, and a hospitable Vietnamese people to international friends.

However, along with these great opportunities are many challenges that Vietnam and the international community must overcome together. The ratification of the Convention is just the beginning. The important thing is how to get countries with goodwill and determination to cooperate together in preventing and combating cybercrime. The problem is to find commonalities, thereby strengthening connections and promoting international cooperation in preventing and combating cybercrime.

In addition, Vietnam also faces its own difficulties, especially in continuing to improve its institutions, legal system and capacity building to be able to coordinate with international partners, not only nationally but also globally.

The final challenge and also the most crucial issue is people. Every officer and every citizen needs to improve their level, awareness, capacity and courage to be able to cooperate and share experiences with the international community in preventing and combating crime in general and cybercrime in particular.

- Thank you very much, Deputy Minister./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/mo-ky-cong-uoc-ha-noi-dau-an-quan-trong-trong-doi-ngoai-da-phuong-cua-viet-nam-post1068342.vnp