President Trump Addresses the United Nations, Highlights Trade Agreement with Vietnam

On the morning of September 23rd (local time), the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Debate commenced at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA, under the theme “Better Together: 80 Years and Beyond for Peace, Development, and Human Rights.” The session was attended by nearly 150 heads of state, government leaders, and high-level representatives from various member nations, along with leaders from international and regional organizations. President Luong Cuong led the Vietnamese high-level delegation at the session.

In his report on global affairs and UN activities, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted that the world is moving toward a multipolar order and requires an effective multilateral system to prevent a repeat of the lessons that led to World War I. He emphasized that the UN serves as a moral compass, a force for maintaining peace, upholding international law, promoting sustainable development, safeguarding human rights, and translating global decisions into concrete actions.

The UN Secretary-General stressed that, in the current context, the international community must make five critical choices. First, peace must be founded on international law. Second, human rights and dignity must be ensured through the fulfillment of international commitments, including by mobilizing resources and reforming the international financial system to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.

Third, climate justice and action must be prioritized through sustainable and equitable energy transitions, ensuring green climate financing via robust financial mechanisms and policies. Fourth, advanced technologies and artificial intelligence should be harnessed to serve global and human development. Fifth, the UN must become more inclusive, transparent, and fit for the 21st century, including through the UN80 Reform Initiative and the revised 2026 budget to enhance accountability, improve service delivery, and reduce costs.

President of the 80th UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbok, highlighted the UN’s achievements in supporting the international community over the past 80 years. She reaffirmed the UN’s central role in the multilateral system and stressed that the strength of the UN Charter depends on member states’ adherence to it. Emphasizing gender equality, she called for the appointment of a female UN Secretary-General.

Speaking immediately after the opening session, Brazilian President Lula da Silva urged the international community to reprioritize its focus, including reducing military budgets and increasing financial resources for sustainable development.

U.S. President Donald Trump remarked that the UN is an organization with immense potential but is currently mismanaged, failing to resolve global armed conflicts. He highlighted his administration’s achievements, including ending seven conflicts worldwide and securing trade agreements with multiple countries, including Vietnam. He emphasized the need to end the conflict in Gaza and secure the release of all hostages.