Role of NA spotlighted in State diplomacy

Can Tho (VNA) – The National Assembly has helped to strengthen relations between Vietnam and many foreign countries, especially neighbouring and regional nations, traditional friends, and strategic and comprehensive partners, said National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu.

The legislator said at a seminar in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on August 20 that the Vietnamese legislative body has set up ties with 140 parliaments and become a member of many parliamentary cooperation organisations worldwide.

Parliamentary diplomacy has significantly contributed to materialising the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, diversification, and multilateralisation, thus improving Vietnam’s global image and position, he noted.

He cited multilateral parliamentary mechanisms in which Vietnam has participated, such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie, the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership.

Vietnam has proposed several initiatives and constructive recommendations, proving itself a responsible member of the international community, Luu said.

He, however, pointed out difficulties facing the legislature’s external affairs, especially regarding personnel, strategic research, and situation forecasting.

Representatives from the foreign ministry, Vietnamese embassies, and international delegates presented speeches on the regional and global situation, and parliamentary diplomacy during the implementation of State’s foreign policy, among other topics.

The event, jointly held by the NA’s Committee for External Affairs and Germany’s Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, will last until August 21. –VNA