This morning marked the opening of the signing ceremony for the Hanoi Convention on Combating Cybercrime.

Photo caption — International delegates arrive at the National Convention Center to attend the signing ceremony of the Hanoi Convention on the morning of October 25. Photo: An Dang/VNA

The event, themed "Combating Cybercrime - Sharing Responsibility - Towards the Future," hosted by Vietnam, marks an important step in the global effort to strengthen international cooperation and ensure security and safety in cyberspace.

Attending the signing ceremony were representatives from nearly 100 United Nations member states and more than 100 international and regional organizations, including agencies within the UN system, regional organizations, financial institutions, and a large number of experts and scholars in the fields of cybersecurity and international law.

According to the program, President Luong Cuong and UN Secretary-General António Guterres will deliver speeches at the opening session of the Hanoi Convention. Also on the first day of the opening ceremony and the High-Level Conference on the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime – the "Hanoi Convention" – there will be a plenary discussion co-chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and UN Secretary-General António Guterres; along with high-level bilateral meetings and a series of sideline discussions on the topics: "Protecting citizens in the digital transformation era"; "Global cooperation in combating online fraud"; "Implementing the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime: Enhancing capacity as a pillar of global cooperation"; and "Sharing experiences in investigating and collecting electronic evidence in cases related to virtual assets and money laundering".

The adoption of the Convention against Cybercrime by the United Nations General Assembly (December 2024) and the opening of the signing ceremony in Hanoi is vivid evidence of the responsibility of nations in protecting cyberspace – a common asset of all humanity. This event is not only a legal procedure but also a foundation for promoting dialogue, sharing experiences, strengthening partnerships among governments, international organizations, and the private sector, becoming a forum to promote the implementation of the UN Convention and global cooperation in combating cybercrime.

The Convention establishes a legal framework for international cooperation in combating cybercrime, ensuring that member states, especially developing and vulnerable nations, receive support and enhanced capacity to address this type of crime. This will be a historic milestone, affirming the value of multilateralism with the United Nations at its center, sending a strong message about our determination to combat cybercrime and build a peaceful, just, and law-abiding world for the benefit of present and future generations.

Holding the signing ceremony in Hanoi demonstrates Vietnam's role, prestige, and positive contributions to global issues, especially in promoting international cooperation in combating cybercrime, protecting a safe and healthy cyberspace, and promoting sustainable development.

According to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang, the inclusion of the name "Hanoi" in the text of the convention is a profound recognition by the international community of Vietnam's role and contributions, not only in the field of cybersecurity, but also in building progressive international legal norms, towards a fairer and safer global order. Furthermore, the opening ceremony of the Hanoi Convention, held just before the 80th anniversary of the United Nations (October 24, 1945 - October 24, 2025), carries special symbolic significance; it honors the spirit of international solidarity in responding to cybersecurity challenges – one of the most pressing global issues today.

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