Vienna (VNA) – The United Nations (UN) alwaysplays an important role in Vietnam’s foreign policy and accompanies the countryin the process of national construction and development, thus creating favourable conditions toenhance its position and image in the international arena anddeepen its relations with other nations around the world.

The statement was made by National Assembly (NA) ChairmanVuong Dinh Hue during his meeting with Director-General of the UN Office atVienna (UNOV) Ghada Fathi Waly on September 6 as part of his trip to Austria toattend the fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (WCSP5).

Hue thanked the UN for its timely and effective support andadvice to Vietnam’s national building and development cause, as well as its assistance to the country in getting accessto financial resources for poverty reduction, sustainable development andsocial welfare assurance.

The Vietnamese legislature's cooperation activities with the UN in theregion have brought about practical results, serving activities of NAagencies and helping to improve skills of lawmakers, he said.

Hue also thanked the UN for assisting Vietnam in the fightagainst the COVID-19 pandemic, showing his hope to receive moresupport in post-pandemic economic development and addressing negativeimpacts of the pandemic on people's livelihoods.

The top legislator also expressed his wish thatthe UN will continue to promote its role in maintaining international peace andsecurity, promoting respect for international law, and supporting countries,including Vietnam, in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

He proposed the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, of which Waly is also the Executive Director, to continue assisting Vietnam inpreventing and combating new types of crimes such as cybercrime and crimes relatedto digital currency and virtual assets.

For her part, Waly affirmed the UN’s commitment tostrengthen cooperation with Vietnam, adding that in the coming time, the UN willfocus on intensifying cooperation with parliaments, including the VietnameseNational Assembly.

She hoped Vietnam will soon join the crime preventionnetwork in Southeast Asia and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress andPunish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children; and step upcooperation in cybersecurity and anti-money laundering.

Waly also appreciated and supported Vietnam's proposal madeat the UN Security Council’s online high-level open debate on enhancingmaritime security on the establishment of a network of mechanisms andinitiatives on regional maritime security coordinated by the UN to increaseinformation and experience sharing, coordinate in taking action, and promptlyrespond to common challenges. She affirmed the UN's willingness to assist Vietnamin ensuring maritime security.

The official said that the UN and Vietnam have many potential areas for cooperation, but should select urgent fields such as women's empowerment andpoverty reduction to boost collaboration first, and proposed the establishment of atripartite cooperation model including the United Nations, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and Vietnam./.