Hanoi (VNA) – The 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-ParliamentaryAssembly (AIPA-41) opened in Hanoi on September 8 under the theme of“Parliamentary Diplomacy for a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community”.
Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan will deliver an openingspeech.
A wide range of activities are scheduled on the day, comprising the firstplenary session, a meeting of Women Parliamentarians of AIPA (WAIPA), and anunofficial meeting of young AIPA parliamentarians.
Together with ASEAN, AIPA has made significant contributions to regionalconnectivity and cooperation for mutual development of the ASEAN member states.In a bid to consolidate solidarity within the ASEAN bloc, AIPA and parliamentsof member countries will work closely with governments of the ASEAN nations toseek measures to build the ASEAN Community, as well as promote the central roleof ASEAN in maintaining regional peace and stability.
This will be thefirst time in history the AIPA General Assembly is held online amid thecomplicated developments of COVID-19, showing the Vietnamese NA's activenessand flexibility as well as its contributions to reforming the operational modeof AIPA.
The hosting of AIPA-41 and activities during the AIPA Chairmanship Year 2020reflect the Vietnamese legislature's active, responsible and practicalcontributions to the AIPA as well as make important contributions tostrengthening solidarity and guiding the organisation's common efforts toassist ASEAN in building its Community, including performing key tasks ofovercoming adverse impacts of the pandemic, maintaining economic development,and ensuring social welfare for all citizens.
According to the organising committee, over 380 delegates will attend theAIPA-41 online via 43 locations./.