Vietnam receives AIPA chairmanship for 2019-2020

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) receives the AIPA chairmanship token for 2019-2020 from Speaker of the Thai House of Representatives Chuan Leekpai.

Chuan Leekpai applauded Vietnam’s remarkable contributions to ASEAN and expected to get stronger cooperation with the country in a bid to build a strong, solid, and sustainable ASEAN Community in the future.

In her address, the top Vietnamese legislator expressed her great honour to take over the AIPA 41 chairmanship and congratulated Chuan Leekpai, who is also Chair of AIPA 40, and Thai parliamentarians on the successful organization of the activities within the framework of the AIPA 40, especially the General Assembly.

Their all-out efforts have helped further draw the engagement of parliamentarians in promoting a peaceful and stable environment in Southeast Asia, as well as contributing to the building of a self-reliant, dynamic and sustainable ASEAN Community, Ngan said.

2020 will be a year to review the five-year development of the ASEAN Community since its establishment in 2015 and to draw experience from the five following years.

It will also be a special year for Vietnam when the nation both holds the position of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, the Chair of ASEAN, and the Chair of AIPA 41.

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan gives a speech showing her great honour to receive the Chair of AIPA.

Therefore, the Vietnamese legislature will continue innovating AIPA activities as well as enhancing the role and position of the AIPA in building the ASEAN community, the NA Chairwoman said.

"The National Assembly of Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to successfully assume the role of AIPA Chair. We look forward to receiving the support and close cooperation of the Thai Parliament and AIPA member parliaments, the AIPA Secretariat and the ASEAN Secretariat for the success of the AIPA and for the prosperous future of the ASEAN Community, " the Vietnamese NA leader said.

Through activities within the framework of the AIPA, Vietnam will go ahead with broader cooperation between the AIPA and the ASEAN, international organizations and multilateral cooperation mechanisms to accelerate the realization of commitments and plans towards the building of the ASEAN Community with a vision to 2025.

With the support of AIPA members, the National Assembly of Vietnam is set to host the first meeting of AIPA young parliamentarians and connect the AIPA with the ASEAN and youngsters of the bloc, she said.

Earlier the same day, NA Chairwoman Ngan attended the second plenary session of the 40th General Assembly of AIPA.

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and heads of parliamentary delegations of AIPA signed a joint communique of the General Assembly of AIPA.

At the second plenary session, the General Assembly also adopted a resolution appointing Ms. Nguyen Tuong Van, Deputy Head of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Vietnam National Assembly Office as the 5th Secretary General of AIPA for the 2019-2020 tenure.