Towards the 11th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

At the invitation of the Government of Japan, Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, nominated Chairman of the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT RevCon, scheduled to be held in April 2026), paid a working visit to Japan from August 4-7.

Ambassador Do Hung Viet greeted Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi.

During the working trip, Ambassador Do Hung Viet and Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu visited Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi.

At the meeting, Minister Iwaya Takeshi highly appreciated Vietnam's readiness to assume the role of Chair of the NPT RevCon Conference, a challenging responsibility in the current context.

Emphasizing the importance that Japan, the only country to have suffered the devastation of nuclear weapons, attaches to the NPT process and the 11th NPT Review Conference, Minister Iwaya Takeshi said that Japan will give “maximum support” to Vietnam to successfully assume this position, and is ready to coordinate and make efforts to promote cooperation and dialogue so that the Conference can achieve results.

Expressing his pleasure to visit Japan, Ambassador Do Hung Viet sincerely thanked the Japanese Government for its stance, affirming the important role of the NPT and the NPT Review Process in the current context. Emphasizing that the two countries share a common goal of moving towards a world free of nuclear weapons, Ambassador Do Hung Viet asked the Japanese Government to continue to closely coordinate and support Vietnam and the Conference Chairman personally in the preparation and organization of the conference next year.

At the meeting, the two sides also discussed the situation and some measures to further promote bilateral relations in the coming time.

Minister Iwaya Takeshi highly appreciated Vietnam's readiness to assume the role of Chair of the NPT RevCon Conference.

On this occasion, Ambassador Do Hung Viet visited the Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Funakoshi Takehiro, worked on the NPT Review Conference with Mr. Kimitake Nakamura, Director General of the Department of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and related officials, and received a number of Japanese scholars who were former diplomats and are currently members of the Group of "Important Persons for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons" (IGEP).

Also within the framework of the visit, in Hiroshima city, Ambassador Do Hung Viet attended the "Commemoration Ceremony of the 80th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing" held on August 6 in Hiroshima city with the participation of the Prime Minister and senior officials of Japan, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu, the diplomatic corps and international guests; met with the Mayor of Hiroshima city and representatives of several non-governmental organizations on preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons in Japan.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was signed in 1968, entered into force in 1970, and currently has 191 member states.

The NPT plays a central role in international non-proliferation and disarmament mechanisms with three pillars including: (i) Non-proliferation of nuclear weapons; (ii) Nuclear disarmament; and (iii) Use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

To date, the NPT is the most comprehensive international treaty, with the participation of five recognized nuclear weapon states – also non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council: the UK, France, the US, Russia and China. Vietnam officially joined the NPT in 1982.

Since the NPT entered into force in 1970, the NPT Review Conference has been held every five years to discuss measures to promote the implementation and increase the universality of the Treaty. To date, countries have held 10 Review Conferences (1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2022). The 11th NPT Review Conference will be held from April 27 to May 22, 2026.

At the third session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom 3) to prepare for the organization of the 11th Review Conference, based on the recommendation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the countries agreed to nominate Vietnam to introduce a candidate to take on the position of Chairman of the Conference.

Accordingly, the Vietnamese Government has introduced Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, as a candidate for this position.

According to the Conference's procedural regulations, from now until he is officially elected to hold the position at the 2026 Conference, Ambassador Do Hung Viet will carry out consultation and exchange activities with countries, groups of countries and other partners in his capacity as "President-designate" of the Conference.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/huong-toi-hoi-nghi-kiem-diem-hiep-uoc-khong-pho-bien-vu-khi-hat-nhan-lan-thu-11-323552.html