Vietnam has an important role in implementing the goals of fighting cybercrime.

On the occasion of attending the Opening Ceremony and High-Level Conference of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime ( Hanoi Convention), on the sidelines of the event, British Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew gave an interview to the press.

- Could you share your feelings when witnessing the signing ceremony of the Hanoi Convention?

Ambassador Iain Frew: It is wonderful to see so many countries coming together in Hanoi to participate in the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime.

This is truly a historic moment, when countries come together to recognize the importance of cooperation to deal with the challenges posed by cybercrime. I feel the great significance of this event.

- Could you tell us how interested the UK is in participating in global efforts to combat cybercrime?

Ambassador Iain Frew: I think it is important that we act together. The UK is working closely with Vietnam and partners around the world to combat cybercrime.

Firstly, we need to recognise the impact that this type of crime has on people – from online scams to serious cases of child pornography and online sexual exploitation. These are issues that directly affect people’s lives and we need to work together to tackle them.

Joint efforts under this Convention enable countries to share information, cooperate and coordinate with a wide range of stakeholders.

It is wonderful that Hanoi is a place that brings together not only governments but also the private sector, civil society and other organisations – because only together can we make real progress.

- According to the Ambassador, how can the UK and Vietnam cooperate to promote this goal?

Ambassador Iain Frew: The UK and Vietnam have a very close working relationship. Coordination between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries is extremely important.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has a representative office in Hanoi and is working closely with Vietnamese partners to combat cybercrime, share information and intelligence, and build deeper multilateral cooperation.

We have achieved many positive results and still have a lot of potential to develop on that solid foundation.

The Hanoi Convention is also a testament to Vietnam's efforts to actively participate in global activities against cybercrime.

- How does the Ambassador perceive Vietnam's role in implementing the goals of fighting cybercrime?

Ambassador Iain Frew: As cyberspace and digital technology continue to evolve, this issue is becoming increasingly complex. Vietnam has a very important role to play in this picture and I see the Vietnamese Government has made a number of commendable efforts to start with.

However, technology will continue to evolve – such as artificial intelligence and other new technologies – so we need to ensure that when implementing, countries not only deliver on what they have agreed, but also continue to work extensively with a wide range of stakeholders to reinforce the commitments in the Convention.

I see huge potential in Vietnam - the technology and financial services sectors are growing rapidly, and we are working with Vietnam in these areas.

As these industries expand, it is important to ensure data security and respond effectively to the challenges of cybercrime and digital technology in the future.

General Secretary To Lam takes a photo with heads of delegations from countries attending the signing ceremony of the Hanoi Convention. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

- Vietnam is cooperating with the UK in the project to build an International Financial Center. Could the Ambassador share his views on digital assets and crimes related to cryptocurrencies and digital currencies – issues also mentioned in this convention?

Ambassador Iain Frew: The UK and Vietnam are working very closely together in this area. Over the past few years, the UK has been proud to support Vietnam in developing the idea of an International Financial Centre in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. This project needs to have a safe, secure foundation and clear protocols to ensure the trust of the international financial system.

We will continue to work closely as the project develops. The online space for digital assets and cryptocurrencies is changing rapidly, so it is important that the UK and Vietnam share experiences and information so that we can work together to develop appropriate and timely solutions at an international level.

The reality is that cybercriminals are often one or two steps ahead of us, so we must be proactive, share experiences to be more prepared and effective, thereby helping Vietnam safely develop new financial services.

- From a UK perspective, could the Ambassador provide an overview of online fraud as a global threat, as well as the UK's national and international strategy in dealing with this problem?

Ambassador Iain Frew: Unfortunately, we are seeing an increase in cyber fraud. A key feature of this type of crime is that it crosses national borders. Therefore, the UK’s national strategy for tackling online fraud and scams is focused on working with partner countries – including Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries.

We recently introduced sanctions for the first time against individuals and organizations that operate fraud centers. I believe we need to continue to develop tools and work together effectively to deploy them in practice.

- Sincerely thank Ambassador Iain Frew./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/viet-nam-co-vai-tro-quan-trong-trong-thuc-hien-cac-muc-tieu-chong-toi-pham-mang-post1072738.vnp