At the conference (Source: VNA)HCM City (VNA) – The Vietnamese National Assembly highly values the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophone (APF)’s role in striving for the goal of promoting and protecting democracy and law-governed State, respecting human rights, and developing cultural diversity, NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong has said.
In her opening remarks at the seventh conference of the APF’s Asia-Pacific region in Ho Chi Minh City on December 1, Phong said Vietnam is working hard to achieve the new United Nations millennial development goals of ensuring gender equality as well as employment for all.
She hoped that participants would discuss ways to increase the rate of female representatives in law-making bodies, and propose effective measures to promote the French language in maintaining cultural diversity amid the globalisation setting.
The APF’s Asia-Pacific region conference, which comprises of sub-committees of Vietnam , Cambodia , Laos and Vanuatu , is considered a multilateral channel and an important venue for the legislatures of participating countries with French as a common language.
The first conference was held in Vietnam’s central province of Thua Thien-Hue in 2006.
Nguyen Thuy Anh, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Sub-Committee, said the 7th conference will take place over two days, focusing on how to strengthen the Francophone space in Asia -the Pacific. Two round-table sessions will be organised on increasing women’s parliamentary involvement, jobs for French-speaking graduates and the role of French language.
On the occasion, Phong hosted a reception for heads of delegations attending the event, representatives from the French sub-committee and the International Organisation of Francophone (OIF).-VNA
