The renovation of the institution and operation of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has brought about efficiency in the organisation’s activities, raised its position and enhanced close cooperation between the IPU and the United Nations, said Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Tong Thi Phong.

Addressing the plenary session of the third World Conference of Speakers of Parliament of the IPU in Geneva on July 21, the head of the Vietnamese NA delegation expressed the hope that the IPU would continue with diversified activities to further cement the regional inter-parliamentary mechanisms and the IPU.

Phong emphasised the Vietnamese NA’s support to the theme of the significant conference, “Parliaments in a world of crisis: securing global democratic accountability for the common good”.

The conference is an opportunity to make a comprehensive reassessment of parliaments’ contributions after 10 years of implementing the first world conference’s declaration to prepare for the world’s new development period as well as discuss the parliaments’ roles and measures to cope with the global economic crisis and other global challenges, she said.

She expressed her belief that the conference is a chance for the IPU to confirm its sound intention to meet the worldwide voters’ desire.

On Vietnam’s commitment to implement the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Vietnamese delegate said that in pursuing the renewal policy, Vietnam has gained important achievements in socio-economic and cultural development and improving people’s living conditions over the past 25 years, with political stability and open external relations towards the goal of a wealthy people, a strong country and a civilised, democratic and equal society.

Vietnam is fulfilling MDGs, said Phong, noting that these are compatible with Vietnam’s efforts to fulfil the nation’s socio-economic development targets.

According to Phong, by 2010 Vietnam has fulfilled the majority of its MDGs pledged before the international community with the implementation of hunger eradication and poverty reduction programmes, primary education universalisation, enhancing gender equality, reducing the newborn fatality rate and increasing healthcare for mothers and children and pushing back malaria and other dangerous epidemics.

However, she noted, Vietnam needs to exert its utmost to achieve the targets in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and to protect the environment during its development process.

The Vietnamese delegate used the occasion to acknowledge the valuable assistance of the UN, the IPU and other international organisations and worldwide friends to Vietnam over the recent past.

Also on this occasion, Vice NA Chairwoman Phong had meetings with the Chairman of China’s National People’s Congress Wu Bangguo, Vice President of the Lao National Assembly Xaysomphone Phomivane, President of the Cambodian National Assembly Heng Samrin, President of the Thai Senate Prasobsook Boondech, Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives Takahiro Yokomichi and heads of other parliaments’ delegations.

The Vietnamese delegation also attended the Preparatory Committee’s sessions./.