Lao official praises Vietnam’s initiative in organising online AIPA 41

Hanoi (VNA) - As President of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2020, Vietnam has demonstrated its determination and taken many initiatives in organising the 41st AIPA General Assembly (AIPA 41) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Head of the Lao National Assembly’s external relations committee Eksavang Vongvichit has said.

In an interview given to the Vietnam News Agency, Eksavang said although the pandemic had affected the organisation of the AIPA 41, the holding of the event in the form of video conferencing is a timely and sound initiative of the Chairwoman and the leadership of Vietnam’s National Assembly (NA).

He also highlighted the importance of AIPA 41’s theme of “Parliamentary diplomacy for a cohesive and proactive ASEAN Community”, saying that countries need coordination and cooperation between legislatures and governments to realise their objectives.

Parliamentary diplomacy plays a crucial role in foreign affairs in general and in people diplomacy in particular, he stressed, adding that this has contributed a voice to maintaining political stability as well as to other important matters such as the economy, culture, society, and gender equality.

This shows that parliamentary diplomacy plays an important role in assisting governments to promote and realise the goals and strategic visions agreed by ASEAN countries’ leaders at the 36th ASEAN Summit, which was held online by Vietnam recently, he noted.

Vietnam’s NA will host AIPA 41 in the form of a teleconference at Hanoi’s International Convention Centre on September 8-10.

It will consist of an opening ceremony, a closing ceremony, and two plenary sessions, meetings of political, economic and social committees, an AIPA women parliamentarians meeting, and an unofficial meeting of young AIPA parliamentarians./.