NEW YORK (ANN/VIETNAM NEWS) – Speaking on behalf of ASEAN during a debate on nuclear weapons at the UN General Assembly’s Committee on Disarmament and International Security (First Committee), the Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, has underscored the commitment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.
The assembly was held in New York from October 18-22. Giang also highlighted ASEAN’s dedication to multilateralism and international cooperation in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
Giang emphasised the pivotal role of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), expressing ASEAN’s hopes that the upcoming review cycle will deliver meaningful progress, driving the comprehensive disarmament agenda forward.
He also noted the significance of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), calling it a historic step towards the ultimate goal of a nuclear-free world.
Giang used the opportunity to reiterate ASEAN’s call for nuclear-armed nations to honour their disarmament obligations with clear plans and actions, and to support the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by signing and ratifying it for its swift enactment.
Giang further stressed the value of nuclear-weapon-free zones in bolstering global non-proliferation efforts, reaffirming ASEAN’s determination to maintain a nuclear-weapon-free Southeast Asia through the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ).
He invited nuclear-armed states to sign and ratify the treaty’s protocol and assured that ASEAN would continue working with other countries to address any outstanding issues, in line with the treaty’s objectives.
ASEAN countries have recognised the positive outcomes of their cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy, Giang noted. He affirmed ASEAN’s commitment to ongoing, constructive dialogue with other nations in the First Committee to advance the vision of a nuclear-weapon-free world.
In a statement delivered during the debate, the Vietnamese delegation reiterated its dedication to fulfilling obligations related to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, as well as adhering to the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.
Vietnam also acknowledged the vital role of the IAEA in fostering the peaceful application of nuclear technology and pledged to continue collaborating with ASEAN members to engage nuclear-armed nations, urging their participation in the SEANWFZ. This effort is aimed at building a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Southeast Asian region.
