A legislator has stressed the need for increased collaboration among relevant agencies to successfully organise events surrounding the 31st ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-31).

At the first meeting of AIPA-31 General Assembly’s organising committee in Hanoi on March 29, Head of the National Assembly’s External Relations Committee Nguyen Van Son said preparations for the events should be made carefully to ensure high quality and effectiveness to contribute to increasing solidarity, cooperation and development among ASEAN countries, especially in this year when Vietnam takes the helm of the AIPA-31.

Delegates exchanged views on the collaboration in preparation for the meeting between AIPA and ASEAN leaders at the 16th ASEAN Summit, which will be held in Hanoi on April 8-9.

The General Assembly of the AIPA-31 will take place in September.

Within the framework of the Assembly, Vietnam successfully held a workshop on the role of female parliamentarians in law making in Hanoi last November and another one on the post-economic crisis period and sustainable development in Da Nang on March 8-9.

This is the second time Vietnam has taken on the AIPA presidency, the first time being in 2002./.