NA leader underlines reinforcing solidarity and ASEAN's centrality at AIPA-43

In his speech at the 43rd General Assembly of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-43)'s first plenary session in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on November 21, the top Vietnamese legislator affirmed that the Vietnamese legislature will step up efforts to carry out commitments and resolutions to be adopted by the AIPA-43.

He applauded the role of Cambodia as Chair of ASEAN and AIPA this year as well as ASEAN member states'  sustained efforts and determination to jointly respond to challenges for the harmony, peace, and prosperity in the region.

After 55 years since its establishment and seven years of building the ASEAN Community, the regional bloc has made great strides in a variety of fields, becoming an organisation with an important role for regional peace, stability and security; a vibrant and highly integrated economy, an inclusive, people-oriented and people-centred community; and a trusted partner of countries and organizations regionally and globally.

In such development, member countries' parliaments have been contributing to building a common legal foundation for the common house of ASEAN, Hue went on to say.

Hue used the occasion to lay stress on five proposals to AIPA, including enhancing ASEAN's solidarity and centrality in maintaining peace, security and stability in the region.

It is imperative to accelerate the supervision role of member parliaments for the implementation of the ASEAN Blueprints on the political, economic and socio-cultural pillars; the support and coordination among member countries in economic growth, narrowing the development gap, improving people's living standards, and responding to epidemics and climate change, protecting the environment, and ensuring energy and water security.

He underlined the importance of further consolidating and renovating the organisation and operation of AIPA, and boosting the coordination and relationship between the legislative and executive channels of regional countries, especially in capitalizing on opportunities and mitigating risks in the field of digital transformation and just energy transition.

Promoting gender equality, women empowerment, public-awareness raising campaigns on AIPA and ASEAN, and the role of young parliamentarians is also important, Hue emphasized.

The Vietnamese NA leader expressed his wish for member countries' and partners' support for and participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians that Vietnam will host next year.

Member parliaments should stay active and proactively pay attention to promoting gender equality and women empowerment, while effectively implementing legal policies on gender, and strengthening the participation of women and youth in legislative and executive bodies.

(Source: VOV)