The fifth ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA Caucus 5), focusing on green growth and poverty reduction for sustainable development, wrapped up on May 13 in Da Lat city, in the Central Highlands of Lam Dong.

More than 60 delegates at the two-day meeting stressed that sustainable development is one of the targets that many countries, especially AIPA members, aim for.

They agreed that ASEAN parliamentarians have played an important role in making policies and incorporating international commitment into their countries’ laws in a bid to harmonise the ASEAN legal system.

Regarding green growth, AIPA Caucus 5 emphasised the importance of enhancing legislative capacity in the field and they recognised Vietnam’s proposal to establish an ASEAN Green Growth Centre.

Participants also discussed poverty reduction policy direction progress and coordination in the implementation of programmes and policies designed to reduce poverty, as well as national strategies during the economic recession to help poor people.

Delegates at the meeting announced the outcomes of the implementation of the 33 rd AIPA General Assembly Resolution in each member country. They stressed the significance of strong cooperation and information sharing among countries and regions in order to exchange experience in legislative activities and the building of legal systems in each country.

Tran Van Hang, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Affairs, said recommendations and proposals from delegates at the meeting will be summated to the 34 th AIPA General Assembly in Brunei for approval, aiming to promote sustainable development, thus contributing to the successful establishment of an ASEAN Community.


AIPA Caucus is held in rotation among AIPA member countries with the aim to create a regular forum for its member countries, special observers as well as between AIPA and ASEAN.

The sixth caucus will be held in Brunei in April or May 2014.-VNA