National Assembly promotes Vietnam's profile at multilateral forums

• Vietnam co-chairs int’l seminar on fighting human trafficking
• NA backs cooperation between Vietnamese, Lao fronts
• NA leader affirms Vietnam’s interest in fostering ties with Laos

The 37th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly takes place from September 29 to October 3 under the theme “Vibrant AIPA for a Progressive ASEAN Community”. 

NAChairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (Photo: VNA)

Leaders of the 10 ASEAN countries and observer countries attending the meeting will discuss measures to implement the ASEAN Vision 2025.

Contributions to the regional inter-parliamentary forum

Since joining AIPA in 1995, Vietnam has consistently participated in its activities and contributed ideas to AIPA’s meetings. 

Vietnam successfully hosted AIPA-23 (2001-2002 tenure) and AIPA-31 (2009-2010 tenure) as well as other conferences, like the “Post-global financial and economic crisis and sustainable development” conference in 1998 and a project to study legal cooperation in combating the trafficking of women and children in 2005. 

Vietnam has contributed to enhancing friendship, cooperation, and mutual understanding within AIPA and promoting AIPA’s role in ensuring peace and prosperity in the region and the world. 

The Vietnamese National Assembly has issued legal documents to realize AIPA’s resolutions.  

At AIPA-37, Vietnamese delegates will participate in discussions of AIPA’s action plans and agenda. 

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan will deliver a speech at the first session and other delegates will participate in meetings of the Committee of female parliamentarians, and committees for political, economic, and social issues.

Multilateral parliamentary diplomacy helps implement external policies

Vietnam’s participation in AIPA reflects its commitment to global integration. 

Vietnam is also a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Francophone Parliamentary Assembly (APF), the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP). Vietnam’s National Assembly has proposed recommendations to enhance cooperation in all these forums.

Ngo Duc Manh, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations, said, “Along with the Party and State’s external relations and people’s diplomacy, parliamentary external relations have deepened the relationship of Vietnam’s National Assembly with other countries. Parliamentary external relations have helped resolve difficult situations, for example, when national sovereignty was threatened.”

In the global integration process, the National Assembly, as a diplomacy channel representing the state and the people, should help the government resolve regional and global issues.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong spoke at the 1st session of the 14th National Assembly in July: “The National Assembly’s external relations work should continue to support Vietnam’s policy of multilateralization and diversification of relations, boost multilateral diplomacy at regional and global forums, and coordinate parliamentary external activities.”