Vietnam has been sparing no effort to prevent discrimination and protect rights of women, as well as strictly fulfill the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, said the top legislator.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong made the statement while receiving a delegation of female parliamentarians from ASEAN countries who have been in Hanoi attending a conference discussing the role of female parliamentarians in law making on Nov. 30.

Trong said the event served as a forum for ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) members to share experiences in upholding the role of women in law making and in political-social activities in general.

The legislative leader applauded practical significance of the conference, saying that protecting rights of women and implementing gender equality has become a focus of nations and one of the Millennium Development Goals.

Most of the AIPA countries have high rates of female parliamentarians, ranging from 20-28 percent, even 31 percent in Malaysia , and many of them are holding important positions in parliaments as well as other state agencies, he noted.

The chairman said he hoped that female parliamentarians will organise more creative and effective activities to promote their role as well as to strengthen cooperation amongst the AIPA member nations for solidarity and prosperity of the ASEAN community.

On behalf of the guests, Vice Chairwoman of the Lao NA Pany Yathotou briefed Chairman Trong on issues tabled for discussion at the conference, including a plan to establish the AIPA Female Parliamentarians League to boost cooperation in law making amongst the AIPA countries./.