Remarks by the President of the 78th session of the General Assembly,
H.E. Mr. Dennis Francis,
23 September 2023
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Your Excellency, Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Viet Nam,?
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Your Excellency, B¨´i Thanh S?n, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam,?
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Esteemed Ministers,?
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Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,?
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Good evening.?
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Let me express my sincere thanks to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Permanent Mission of Viet Nam for the generous invitation to join you this evening.?
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It is an honour to join you in the celebration of the 46th anniversary of Viet Nam¡¯s membership in the United Nations, and 78th anniversary of its National Day.?
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It is also a distinct pleasure to enjoy tonight¡¯s musical performance ¨C a unique expression of Viet Nam¡¯s rich traditions and unique cultural heritage.?
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Indeed, Viet Nam is an extraordinary story of resilience, transformation and success.?
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Once a nation of extreme poverty, Viet Nam today is a vibrant middle-income country, bustling with a dynamic population and a spirit of entrepreneurism.?
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Since its accession to the United Nations in 1977, Viet Nam has been an active partner in promoting multilateralism and upholding the values of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Charter.?
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Serving as a member of the Security Council; the Human Rights Council; involvement in Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and Central African Republic ¨C and as Vice-President of the General Assembly, Viet Nam has contributed?greatly?to the work of the Organisation.?
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You have demonstrated tenacity in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and risen to the global call for climate action.?
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Your inspirational triumphs ¨C at home and on the global stage ¨C have showcased that, no matter how daunting, challenges can indeed be overcome through?dialogue, trust and determination.?
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The words of US President Joe Biden at the opening of the General Debate – following his visit to Viet Nam – did resonate very well with me; and this is another clear testament to your country¡¯s commitment to global peace and prosperity.?
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Excellencies,?
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It is this determination that the General Assembly needs most today.?
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At the mid-point of the 2030 Agenda, our Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ family must find new ways to return to the solidarity that brought us together almost eight decades ago.?
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As President of the General Assembly, I hope to bring forward a renewed spirit of cooperation – to help build bridges that lead to meaningful results for our world¡¯s eight billion people.?
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I reaffirm my support to all Member States, including Viet Nam, in implementing the SDGs, addressing the issues on our global agenda today and charting the course towards the?Summit of the Future.?
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In turn, I ask for your partnership.?
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In this connection, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge Viet Nam¡¯s support to my Office. For the first time, I have a very dedicated staff member in my team from your great country, and I thank you for that.?
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I encourage Viet Nam to continue to light our path forward with your active engagement in our shared endeavours.?
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Once again, I congratulate Viet Nam on 46 years of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ membership and look forward to our continued efforts to realise a future of?peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability, leaving no one behind.?
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C?m ?n [Thank you].?