Participation in IPU-137 shows VN’s dynamism in parliamentary diplomacy

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan

Invited by IPU President Saber Chowdhury, Chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia Valentina Ivanovna Matviyenko and Chairman of the State Duma of Russia Vyacheslav Volodin, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan will lead a NA delegation to the IPU-137 in Saint Petersburg, Russia from October 14-15.

Vietnam’s participation in IPU activities is an important task, allowing the legislature to promote and protect Vietnam’s interests, learn international viewpoints, explain the nation’s views on global concerns, and conduct bilateral meetings on the sidelines with its partners.

These are also chances for Vietnam to learn from other parliaments’ experience to improve the quality of its NA’s operations, promote its image to international friends, and improve its position in the international arena.

In April 1979, Vietnam became a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Since then, the country has been an active member of the forum, which has been acknowledged by other countries. Through the IPU forum, relations between the Vietnamese National Assembly and other parliaments have been established and intensified.

In October 2007 at the 117th IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, Vietnam's NA was elected to the IPU Executive Committee - the forum’s highest body - for the first time.

Vietnam was designated as IPU Vice President in 2009. In this role, Vietnam made effective contributions to the IPU’s activities, optimising international support for Vietnam and its legislature.

Notably, in April 2015, Vietnam hosted the 132nd IPU Assembly with the Hanoi Declaration adopted, contributing to devising the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.

In October 2016 at the 135th IPU Assembly in Switzerland, Chairman of the NA Committee for External Affairs Nguyen Van Giau was elected to the IPU Executive Committee for 2016-2019.

Recently in May, Ho Chi Minh City hosted an Inter-Parliamentary Union symposium for Asia-Pacific, which discussed responding to climate change and the role of lawmakers in realising sustainable development goals.

After the 137th IPU Assembly, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan will visit Kazakhstan from October 16-18.