The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) pledged to work closely with Vietnam to prevent and drive back the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Secretary General Martin Chungong told National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong at a meeting in Hanoi on November 30.

He recognised Vietnam ’s achievements in the field and said he hopes the Southeast Asian country will become a strong member in the union.

Martin Chungong appreciated the country’s preparations for the 132nd IPU Assembly – which is slated for March 2015 in Hanoi – adding that he believed the event will be a success.

For her part, the Vietnamese lawmaker asked the IPU to coordinate closely with Vietnam in drafting the Hanoi Statement that demonstrates the resolve of parliamentarians worldwide to work for post-2015 sustainable development targets for a world of peace, friendship, democracy and development.

She said that Vietnam is honoured to be selected again to participate in the trilateral cooperation programme on HIV/AIDS among the IPU, the UNAIDS, and an IPU member parliament.

The results of this programme, particularly the role of the Vietnamese National Assembly in combating HIV/AIDS and implementing the millennium development goals, will be introduced at the upcoming 132nd IPU Asembly.

Vietnam, which became a member of the IPU in 1979, is striving to end AIDS by 2030.

According to the Ministry of Health, Vietnam currently has around 224,000 HIV-infected patients, and just more than half of them know about their HIV positive status. Around 10,000 new HIV infections are detected each year./.