National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (L) meets with IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong in Geneva on March 25 (Photo: VNA)Geneva (VNA) – Chairwomanof the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan had a workingsession with Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) MartinChungong on the sidelines of the 138th IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, onMarch 25.
Chungong highly valued the Vietnamesedelegation’s participation in all IPU events, which has shown the country’srole as an active member of the IPU.
Ngan noted with satisfaction the outcomes of concretecooperation in realising the parliamentary partnership between the IPU and theVietnamese NA and the United Nations representative in Vietnam.
She thanked the IPU Secretary General forsupporting the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam and the Vietnameseparliament to introduce the sustainable development self-assessment tool (SDAT)to NA deputies.
The top Vietnamese legislator also appreciatedChungong’s contributions to the IPU, especially in reforming the IPUSecretariat’s activities, supporting the implementation of IPU programmes andstrategies, and enhancing the IPU’s cooperation and partnership with the UN,thereby helping to improving parliaments and parliamentarians’ voice.
Chungong expressed his delight at Vietnam’sdevelopment, including its efforts to realise the Sustainable DevelopmentGoals.
[IPU values ties with Vietnam: IPU Secretary General]
He thanked Vietnam for successfully organisingthe 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26) lastJanuary, adding that it has demonstrated itself as an active and responsiblemember of the IPU.
The IPU Secretary General hoped the SDAT willsoon be introduced to ministries, sectors and localities of Vietnam.
At the meeting, Chungong also talked about theProtocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, which is within theframework of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and will takeeffect after it is ratified by 40 countries. He expressed his hope that Vietnamwill ratify this protocol soon.
For her part, Ngan affirmed Vietnam’sdetermination to prevent the harms and illegal trading of tobacco, which isreflected in the promulgation of the Law on Prevention and Control of TobaccoHarms. The country is ready to ratify the protocol, she added.
The working session with the IPU SecretaryGeneral was the last activity of the Vietnamese delegation while staying inGeneva to attend the IPU-138 before leaving for an official visit to theNetherlands.-VNA
VNA
