A delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly, led by NA Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan joined 46 IPU member delegations at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Hearing in New York, on Nov. 28-29.

The hearing, themed “Strengthening political accountability for a more peaceful and prosperous world” examined aspects relating to youth participation in the democratic process – challenges and opportunities, accountability in the management of public funds – good practices and model legislation for budget transparency, strengthening the links between national institutions and civil society – toward more open societies and the role of the United Nations General Assembly in strengthening global accountability.

Addressing the hearing, Vice Chairwoman Ngan emphasised the NA’s important role in drafting budget estimates, approval, implementation and balance.

She also highlighted the necessity to conduct NA supervision to ensure budget effectiveness and transparency, ensure the independence of the State Audit of Vietnam, boost anti-corruption work, and encourage people’s involvement in public policies, budget and public investment utilisation.

She voiced her support for international efforts and the UN and IPU’s guiding roles to build international standards on budget transparency and proposed NAs enhance cooperation and share experience in the field.

On the sidelines of the event, NA Vice Chairwoman Ngan met with the IPU Vice President and General Secretary and heads of parliamentary delegations to the hearing.

She also shared views with the delegation of the Republic of Korea on a number of measures to enhance cooperation between the two legislative bodies and countries in trade, labour and peace and security in the region.

While in New York, the Vietnamese delegation heard Prof. Thomas Valley, representative of the group for Vietnam studies at Harvard University, presented latest research results on the world’s economic impacts on Vietnam and set forth a number of suggestions for new growth models for Vietnam in the current period to avoid middle income traps that many developing nations are facing./.