Norwegian FM delivers presentation on multilateralism

The session took place in a hybrid form from Hanoi and Oslo (Norway). In Hanoi, the session is attended by over 50 participants representing ministries, agencies, prominent think tanks and academia, and students – the future diplomats.

In her opening remarks, Doctor Phạm Lan Dung, Acting Vice President of DAV expressed the Academy’s gratitude for being chosen as the venue for this special public speech by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, and for the collaboration with the Norwegian Embassy in organising this event. Doctor Dzung said, “This is an important event with substantive contribution to promoting Norway-Vietnam bilateral cooperation as well as collaboration of the two countries at the multilateral forum”.  This event also demonstrated strong commitments of the two countries to multilateralism for effective responses to the challenges in both regional and international evolving context.

In his welcoming remarks, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Mr Pham Quang Hieu emphasized, “The greater challenges we face worldwide, the more we need multilateral means and tools to bolster our cooperation and coordination to overcome such challenges”. He also affirmed Vietnam’s support for multilateralism and multilateral diplomacy as the strategic direction for the country’s foreign policy. He is happy to see Norway-Vietnam relations developing in a positive and comprehensive manner, which will mark its 50th anniversary next year.

The two countries share many similarities including mutual interest and concerns. This will lay a strong foundation for Norway and Vietnam to bolster cooperation not only bilaterally but also on the international forum, particularly at the United Nations when Norway will serve on the UN Security Council term 2021-2022. Assistant Minister Hieu congratulated the Stortinget on being selected as an Observer Parliament in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and expressed hope to see Norway’s greater engagement in cooperative mechanisms and stronger support for ASEAN centrality in regional cooperation, peace, and stability in the Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Ine Eriksen Søreide, opened her speech by emphasizing a firm foundation that United Nations, particularly its Charter, has laid for global joint efforts during times of uncertainty based on the principles of respect for rules of law, human rights and dignity. This is more important than ever given the context of the geopolitical tensions, disruption and emergencies that the world is facing now. The Minister thanked Vietnam for, during its presidency of the Security Council (UNSC) last January, convening an open debate on “Upholding the United Nations Charter”. She also commended Vietnam for choosing ‘Cohesive and Responsive’ as the theme of its ASEAN Chairmanship, which shows the country’s “commitment to enhancing ASEAN cohesion and to giving ASEAN a more visible voice at the global level and in the UN is important”.

“Vietnam and Norway are both strong believers in multilateralism and rules-based international cooperation. Today, long-standing principles of multilateralism are being challenged by countries that are choosing a unilateral path, exacerbated by conflicts, climate change and growing inequality. On top of all this, we have an unprecedented health and socio-economic crisis as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Once again our collective recovery and well-being relies on solidarity and international cooperation”, said the Minister. 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway also introduced a white paper on multilateralism introduced by the Norwegian Government in 2019. The paper lays out Norway’s responses to major international challenges, and sets the direction for Norwegian multilateral policy with a realistic and constructive approach to international cooperation.

Under the white paper, Norway is persistent in defending and expanding the country’s options in foreign policy, giving priorities to advancing the issues and values that are of fundamental importance to Norway, functioning as a driver of reform, strengthening the institutions that matter the most to Norway’s security, economy and welfare - first and foremost the UN, the WTO, NATO and relations with the European Union, and intensifying partnership with countries that support a rule-based international order, including Vietnam.

Minister Søreide also highlighted four thematic areas of Norway’s focus when it assumes the role of a non-permanent member on UNSC 2021-2022 including peace diplomacy, inclusion of women in building sustainable and lasting peace, protection of civilians, and responses to climate-related security threats. She affirmed that in order to find adequate responses to the growing security challenges, “the UN must continue to develop its partnerships with regional bodies such as ASEAN, and EU”.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway concluded her speech by reaffirming a strong spirit of multilateralism that each country needs to uphold in order to recover better and thrive in a challenging world now and in the future.

The participants had a great opportunity to discuss with the speaker various areas of cooperation between Norway and Vietnam, particularly focusing on mutual commitment and determination to promote cooperation and contribute to reviving the multilateralism spirit for the interest of the two countries, the two regions and the world at large.