Head of the Lao National Assembly’s external relations committee Eksavang Vongvichit (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - As President of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly(AIPA) in 2020, Vietnam has demonstrated its determination and taken manyinitiatives in organising the 41st AIPA GeneralAssembly (AIPA 41) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Head of the Lao National Assembly’s external relations committee EksavangVongvichit has said.
In an interview given to the Vietnam News Agency, Eksavang said although thepandemic had affected the organisation of the AIPA 41, the holding of the eventin the form of video conferencing is a timely and sound initiative of theChairwoman and the leadership of Vietnam’s National Assembly (NA).
He also highlighted the importance of AIPA 41’s theme of “Parliamentary diplomacy for a cohesive and proactiveASEAN Community”, saying that countries need coordination and cooperation betweenlegislatures and governments to realise their objectives.
Parliamentary diplomacy plays a crucial role in foreign affairs in generaland in people diplomacy in particular, he stressed, adding that this has contributeda voice to maintaining political stability as well as to other importantmatters such as the economy, culture, society, and gender equality.
This shows that parliamentary diplomacy plays an important role in assisting governmentsto promote and realise the goals and strategic visions agreed by ASEAN countries’leaders at the 36th ASEAN Summit, which was held online by Vietnam recently, henoted.
Vietnam’s NA will host AIPA 41 in the form of ateleconference at Hanoi’s International Convention Centre on September 8-10.
It will consist of an opening ceremony, a closing ceremony, and two plenary sessions,meetings of political, economic and social committees, an AIPA women parliamentariansmeeting, and an unofficial meeting of young AIPA parliamentarians./.
VNA
