President Luong Cuong and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are set to co-chair the official signing ceremony of the UN Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes, known informally as the "Hanoi Convention."

President Luong has issued formal invitations to heads of state across all UN member countries, inviting them to participate in the historic event in Hanoi on October 25-26.

This announcement was made during the 34th session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ34), which took place in Vienna on May 19.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and included representatives from various government ministries.

The CCPCJ is one of the UN's key policymaking bodies on crime prevention and criminal justice, tasked with setting international standards, promoting global cooperation, and guiding the work of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

It also serves as the preparatory body for the UN Crime Congress, with the next high-level session scheduled for 2026 in the United Arab Emirates.

This year’s session was especially significant, as the international community paid close attention to the recent consensus within the UN on adopting the first global convention addressing cybercrime in more than two decades.

The "Hanoi Convention" represents a landmark moment in the UN’s commitment to building a unified legal framework to combat cyber threats.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang emphasized Vietnam’s efforts to enhance its legal and institutional framework for criminal justice, as well as to expand international cooperation in combating crime.

She highlighted Vietnam's initiative to host the official signing ceremony as a testament to the country’s commitment to multilateralism and its proactive role in global governance.

The convention, she noted, marks a crucial step toward a legally binding international mechanism to address cybercrime, which has become a growing threat to global socio-economic development.

She stressed that the signing event is more than a ceremonial occasion - it sends a strong message about the necessity of international solidarity and legal cooperation in the fight against cybercrime.

Vietnam calls on all nations to attend, sign, and swiftly ratify the Hanoi Convention so that it can enter into force and contribute meaningfully to global efforts in cybercrime prevention and control.

Tran Thuong