National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong called on parliamentarians of Asian-Pacific nations to intensify cooperation in policy and law making preventing HIV/AIDS at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) regional seminar on HIV/AIDS in Hanoi on Dec. 11.

Chairman Trong highly praised IPU’s organising the seminar, which, he said, provided a good chance for members of parliament (MP) to share experiences and increase cooperation in making law and policy in HIV/AIDS prevention and eradication.

He added that combating HIV/AIDS takes a long time, requiring close cooperation and mutual support between countries in order to prevent the pandemic.

Over the last three decades, about 60 million people worldwide have been tested HIV positive, which caused losses for not only their families but also for humankind, Trong said.

Deputy Minister of Public Works of South Africa Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu and other MPs spoke highly of Vietnam ’s efforts in HIV/AIDS prevention.

They also pledged to fight against the disease transmission.

Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, who is also head of IPU advisory group on HIV/AIDS, said it is necessary to break down discrimination towards HIV carriers and increase their participation in law-making process.

Delegates at the seminar agreed upon proposed recommendations, including increasing transnational cooperation and creating conditions for people living with HIV/AIDS to approach available drugs.

The two-day seminar, where participants stressed the necessity of increased inter-parliamentary cooperation in combating HIV/AIDS, wrapped up on Dec. 11./.