UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Vietnam for Hanoi Convention

THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam’s President Luong Cuong this afternoon [October 24] hosted a welcoming ceremony for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who came for the Signing Ceremony of the UN Convention against Cybercrime to take place in Hanoi on October 25-26.

The ceremony was held in a solemn atmosphere with an honor guard inspection, flag salute and floral presentation with the attendance of senior leaders from ministries, central agencies and Hanoi.

Following the ceremony, President Luong Cuong and Secretary-General Guterres held bilateral talks.

The visit coincides with the 80th anniversaries of both the founding of the United Nations and Vietnam’s National Day, symbolizing the enduring partnership between Vietnam and the world’s largest multilateral organization.

Serving as UN Secretary-General since 2017, Guterres has consistently recognized Vietnam’s active role in promoting peace, sustainable development and multilateralism. This is his second official visit to Vietnam, following the first in 2022.

According to the program, Secretary-General Guterres will attend the Signing Ceremony of the UN Convention against Cybercrime ( the Hanoi Convention ) chaired by President Luong Cuong at the National Convention Center.

The event will gather representatives from many countries and international organizations under the theme “Countering Cybercrime – Shared Responsibility – Shaping the Future.”

UN Convention against Cybercrime

The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 24, 2024, under Resolution 79/243, will be officially opened for signature in Hanoi on October 25, 2025, marking the first time a United Nations treaty bears the name of a Vietnamese location.

Finalized after four years of negotiation and unanimously adopted by all 193 UN member states, the Convention represents the first international legal instrument on transnational crime adopted within the UN framework in two decades.

It provides a comprehensive multilateral legal foundation to prevent and combat cybercrime while promoting cooperation among governments, international organizations, businesses and civil society.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said the event is a milestone in Vietnam’s multilateral diplomacy and the 47-year partnership between Vietnam and the United Nations.

Following the Hanoi signing, the Convention will remain open for signature at the UN Headquarters in New York until December 31, 2026, and will enter into force 90 days after the fortieth ratification or accession.

Comprising nine chapters and seventy-one articles, the Convention addresses a wide range of issues, including the criminalization of cyber offenses, jurisdiction, procedural measures, international cooperation, preventive actions, technical assistance and protection of human rights.

It emphasizes respect for sovereignty and fundamental freedoms such as freedom of expression and belief, and calls on member states to develop strong legal and technical capacities to counter cyber threats.

 The program on October 25 includes an official welcome for heads of delegations, the signing ceremony managed by the UN Office of Legal Affairs, thematic panel discussions and plenary sessions broadcast live on UN Web TV.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will deliver the keynote address, followed by national statements from UN member states and representatives of international organizations.

High-level panels will discuss global cooperation in combating online scams, protecting citizens in the digital transformation era and strengthening capacity building under the new Convention.

The Convention’s adoption is seen as a major step forward in building a unified international framework to fight cybercrime, promote cross-border cooperation and enhance digital security worldwide.

It reaffirms the UN’s central role in addressing global challenges in the digital age and lays the foundation for future international frameworks related to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.