Deputy FM Tuan Le Anh Tuan and UNCITRAL Secretary Anna Joubin-Bret signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNCITRAL for the 2025–2031 period. The MoU focuses on improving Vietnam's legal frameworks for the green and digital economies, enhancing capacity for Vietnamese legal experts, and supporting Vietnam’s legal reform in international trade.
Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan and UNCITRAL Secretary Anna Joubin-Bret sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNCITRAL for the 2025–2031. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - A delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headed by Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan engaged in a range of cooperative activities with United Nations (UN) agencies in Vienna, Austria form July 14-18, coinciding with the 58th session of the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
During the plenary session, which brought together around 80 countries and both governmental and non-governmental organisations, UNCITRAL discussed various issues concerning international trade law, such as the carbon market, negotiable transport documents, and the application of emerging technologies in dispute resolution.
On July 17, Deputy Minister Tuan and UNCITRAL Secretary Anna Joubin-Bret signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNCITRAL for the 2025–2031 period. The MoU focuses on improving Vietnam's legal frameworks for the green and digital economies, enhancing capacity for Vietnamese legal experts, and supporting Vietnam’s legal reform in international trade.
Tuan commended UNCITRAL's role, congratulated the success of the 58th session, and thanked the organisation for its effective cooperation. Secretary Joubin-Bret welcomed Vietnam’s new initiative on carbon markets and backed the proposal to hold a commemorative event in Hanoi marking the 60th anniversary of UNCITRAL.
On the sidelines of the session, the Vietnamese delegation, in coordination with the UNCITRAL Secretariat, organised a side event on July 15, introducing the topic of “carbon markets” for the commission’s upcoming programme of work.
In a meeting with Ciyong Zou, Deputy to the Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Deputy Minister Tuan praised UNIDO’s role in advancing industrial development in developing countries, including Vietnam. He highlighted Vietnam’s near 10% industrial growth rate in 2024 and urged continued support from UNIDO in policy consultancy, capacity building, development of green and modern industries, and in recruiting more Vietnamese professionals.
At the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Tuan and Candice Welsch, Director of the Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, signed a Host Country Agreement (HCA) between the Government of Vietnam and UNODC on the organisation of the Signing Ceremony of the UN Convention on Cybercrime in October 2025./.
Secretary of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Anna Joubin-Bret praised Vietnam's active participation in UNCITRAL working groups, particularly during its first term from 2019-2025, and welcomed the country's re-election for the 2025-2031 term with high votes.
Despite the immense pain and loss endured, Vietnam has consistently chosen the path of peace, cooperation, and reconciliation — principles that lie at the heart of the UN Charter.
The country will showcase legal reforms, including the abolition of the death penalty for eight crimes in the Penal Code, the passage of the Law on Juvenile Justice, and amendments to the Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Combat.
PM Pham Minh Chinh stressed that citizens and businesses must be placed at the centre of the process, asking competent sides to arrange sufficient resources and ensure institutional perfection, which he described as “breakthrough of breakthroughs”, to lead the way for science-technology development.
PM Pham Minh Chinh called for renewed determination, decisive actions, and focus-driven efforts to achieve the growth target of 8.3–8.5% for 2025, stressing the need for clear responsibilities, timelines, and measurable outcomes.
In the context as Vietnam is promoting institutional reform, the development of policies based on an efficiency assessment mechanism is an urgent requirement to ensure focused investments.
To serve both the two-tier local government operations and the APEC 2027 Leaders’ Week, An Giang is implementing a major tech infrastructure project on Phu Quoc Island, with a total investment of 500 billion VND (19.1 million USD).
The Deputy PM applauded the task force’s preparation, stressing that smart urban development is not a choice but an inevitable trend for countries aiming for sustainable growth, improving the quality of life for people, and strengthening urban governance and operation.
Public-private partnerships are expected to create positive synergy, while also placing greater responsibility on private investors in managing and developing projects. This approach helps ensure the effective use of public funds to advance science and technology, foster innovation, and drive digital transformation.
Vietnam ranked 44th out of 133 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2024, up two places from the previous year, and retained its leading position among lower middle-income countries.
The centre will initially operate at a capacity of 30MW and is expected to scale up to 120MW, serving the huge computing needs for AI development and the digital economy sector of the city.
Across the city’s coastal communities, local authorities are adopting specialised digital applications to manage fishing vessels, monitor catch data, and support traceability efforts.
A report from Fortinet in June revealed that automated scanning attempts had surged to 36,000 per second, a 17% increase from the previous year. Alarmingly, 42% of these were account takeover attacks, and leaks involving 1.7 billion sets of credentials. In Vietnam, data from the National Cybersecurity Association showed that 659,000 cyberattacks were recorded in 2024, affecting approximately 46.15% of government agencies and enterprises.
The introduction of AI robots marks a key step in Hanoi’s efforts to streamline administrative processes, modernise public services, and build a more citizen-friendly government.
Under the Poliburo’s Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, Vietnam aims to be among the top three ASEAN countries and the top 50 globally in AI development by 2030.
With the ambition to become a leading startup and innovation hub in Vietnam and Southeast Asia by 2030, Da Nang has implemented a range of incentives and actively promoted investment in its innovation ecosystem.
Showcased technologies include AI, IoT, Big Data, drones, robotics, Holobox, and sector-specific solutions such as EdTech, AgriTech, FinTech, and cybersecurity. A dedicated zone for startups also forms part of the exhibition.
According to the Law on Digital Technology Industry, the incentives include full corporate income tax exemption for the first two years and 50 % reduction in the four following years, as well as land rent waivers for three years.
Kenneth Tse, General Director of Intel Vietnam, noted that in nearly 20 years of operations in the country, Intel Vietnam has exported over 4 billion products, contributing more than 100 billion USD to Vietnam’s export revenue.
The fund plans to assist Can Tho through a comprehensive set of initiatives such as the “Digital Transformation for All” programme to promote digital literacy; AI training for public officials and businesses; startup incubation and co-investment; and financial support for AI research and innovation. Additional support includes providing free working spaces for AI developers and formulating a region-specific AI strategy.
Amid growing global demand, fragile supply chains and intensifying geopolitical conflicts, Vietnam is rapidly emerging as one of the most promising players in the global semiconductor landscape, a seminar heard in Ho Chi Minh City on July 2.
Key areas eligible for PPPs include high and strategic technologies; infrastructure for the research, development, and application of high and strategic technologies; and digital infrastructure supporting the digital economy, digital society, and digital government.
