Participants at a debate in the framework of the IPU-144 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - The Vietnamese delegation to the 144th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-144) and relevant meetings in Bali, Indonesia from March 20-24 have actively participated in the event's discussions and activities, thus contributing greatly to the event's success, according to an official of the National Assembly.
According to Thai Quynh Mai Dung, standing member of the NA's Committee for External Relations, Vietnam hasmade five proposals on enhancing parliaments’ role in climate change-related issuesat the plenary debate.
The proposals focused on promoting stronger and more effectiveimplementation of policies to respond to climate change and developing roadmapstowards achieving net-zero emissions as committed at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26); strengthening cooperationon the basis of the principle of fairness and responsibility sharing but withdistinction, in accordance with the capacity and condition of each country.
standing member of the NA's Committee for External Relations Thai Quynh Mai Dung (Photo: VNA) Vietnam underlined that parliaments should strengthen lawmaking, monitor and allocate funds to ensure implementation of national climatecommitments.
It also suggested the IPU to coordinate with theSecretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to build a mechanismfor monitoring, sharing information, experience and good models in implementingnational commitments.
At a debate on emergency issues within the IPU-144, the Vietnamese delegation stressed that all international conflicts must besettled through peaceful measures in respect of basic principles ofinternational law and the UN Charter as well as sovereignty equality andpolitical independence and territorial integrity, non-interference in internalaffairs of states and not using or threatening to use forces.
In particular, in the context thatTuvalu could not assume the role of the Asia-Pacificgeopolitical group (APG)’s Presidentdue to the COVID-19 pandemic, on the basis of the proposal of the IPUSecretariat and the approval of the Vietnamese NA Chairman, Vietnam successfullychaired the APG meeting, contributing to strengthening solidarity andparliamentary cooperation within APG.
In the framework of the IPU-144, the head of the Vietnamese delegation - Chairman of the NA's Committee for External Relations Vu Hai Ha - metwith the President and the General Secretary of the IPU; joined a tripartitemeeting with his Lao and Cambodian counterparts on activities to strengthenparliamentary cooperation between the three countries. He also had bilateral meetingswith heads of delegations of the Republic of Korea, China, Thailand, andIndonesia to strengthen bilateral and multilateral parliamentary relations;discuss issues of post-pandemic sustainable recovery, and solutions to respondto climate change.
Dung stressed that the Vietnamesedelegation’s active participation at the IPU-144 conveyed three importantmessages, affirming the joint efforts of the Vietnamese NA and Government inimplementing climate change adaptation and sustainable development goals in thefuture; the importance of parliamentary diplomacy to world peace and security; andthe active participation of Vietnamese young and female NA deputies in activitiesof the IPU./.
