A meeting was held in Hanoi on December 29 to coordinate publicity activities in 2010 as Vietnam undertakes the presidency of the 31st ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-31).

The Vice Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for External Affairs, Ngo Duc Manh reviewed the main events for the AIPA year which began October 31, 2009 and ends in September 2010.

He highlighted a series of activities scheduled for 2010, including an AIPA conference on the role of law makers during the financial crisis, a visit to China by an AIPA delegation led by its President Nguyen Phu Trong, a meeting between the AIPA President and ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN summit, several visits to AIPA member countries, an AIPA Caucus meeting and other meetings to prepare the agenda for the General Assembly and to gain experiences organising the AIPA in Thailand and Singapore.

Vietnam’s assumption of AIPA presidency and hosting AIPA-31 General Assembly will be an important event for Vietnam not only to fulfil its duties as an AIPA member but also to introduce its land and people to the international platform.

The mass media will play a key role in publicity campaigns to promote the AIPA’s image as well as the Vietnamese National Assembly’s role in the organisation. Various exhibitions will be held, pictorial books will be published and films will be made also to this purpose./.