Hanoi (VNA) – Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA)’s Committee on National Defence, Security, and External Affairs Don Tuan Phong has highlighted key contributions by the NA to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) ahead of NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s upcoming participation in the 150th Assembly of the IPU in Uzbekistan.
Phong said that since its establishment in 1889, the IPU has increasingly affirmed its vital role amid growing global fragmentation, which makes global challenges more difficult, requiring comprehensive solutions, joint efforts, and consensus of countries, including close coordination of parliaments around the world.
Since joining the IPU in 1979, the Vietnamese NA has always demonstrated active and responsible participation and contribution by sharing experiences with parliaments of other countries in policy and law making, with a focus on not only boosting economic growth but also ensuring sustainable development, social justice and environmental protection, promoting innovation, and putting people at the centre of the policy-making process.
As an active and responsible member of the IPU, Vietnam has continually been proposing initiatives and making substantive contributions to the union’s activities. It stands ready to work with the IPU and member parliaments to implement resolutions and initiatives, contributing to peace and sustainable development for the benefit of people worldwide, the official said.
He also highlighted Vietnam’s successful hosting of several key IPU events. Most notably, the country hosted the 132nd IPU Assembly in Hanoi in 2015 under the theme “Sustainable Development Goals: Turning Words into Action”, which attracted over 160 parliamentary delegations. During this event, the IPU members approved the Hanoi Declaration to promote parliamentary action in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This is a great legacy, showcasing Vietnam’s outstanding contributions to addressing global challenges alongside the international community, Phong emphasised.
Notably, in September 2023, Vietnam hosted the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians, themed “the role of youth in promoting the realisation of sustainable development goals via digital transformation and innovation”, with the participation of nearly 700 domestic and international delegates. Eight years after the Hanoi Declaration approval, Vietnam once again made history by introducing the first-ever declaration at a global conference of young parliamentarians.
The Vietnamese NA has also actively joined the IPU’s leadership and governance mechanisms. It assumed the presidency of the Asia-Pacific Geopolitical Group at the IPU Assembly in 2006 and 2016, and the ASEAN+3 Group in November 2021.
Notably, the Vietnamese NA’s representatives were twice elected to the IPU Executive Committee in the 2007–2011 and 2015–2019 tenures, and designated as IPU Vice President in 2009 and 2019.
Phong stressed that these reflect the high level of trust and confidence that international parliaments have in the Vietnamese parliament’s leadership and guidance capacity.
At the 150th IPU Assembly, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man is expected to deliver a keynote speech at the general debate on parliamentary action for development and social justice. He will also hold bilateral meetings with representatives of the IPU Secretariat, as well as leaders from other countries’ parliaments and international organisations to discuss ways to boost cooperation with the IPU, deepen ties with partners, and enhance Vietnam’s engagement in the IPU and multilateral forums.
These efforts also aim to garner international support and external resources to realise the Southeast Asian nation’s development goals, according to the official./.
