Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan at the event (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National AssemblyChairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan attended the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface withRepresentatives of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) aspart of the virtual 36th ASEAN Summit on June 26.
PM Phuc, who is also Chair of ASEAN 2020, affirmed that the event reflects the closecollaboration between governments and parliaments of ASEAN member states in theprocess of building the ASEAN Community.
Accompanying the development of the ASEAN over the past four decades, the AIPA hasupheld its important role in harmonising laws among nations and creatingfavourable conditions for the full and effective implementation of policies byregional governments, he said.
In the spirit of the ASEAN Year 2020 theme “Cohesive and Responsive”, the PMaffirmed that ASEAN countries stay united to realise the ASEAN Community Vision2025, towards a connected and cohesive ASEAN Community that upholds its centralrole in the evolving regional architecture and actively adapts with opportunitiesand challenges.
As the region and the world are facing unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the bloc convened the ASEAN Special Summit and ASEAN 3 Special Summit on COVID-19. The Vietnamese leader said the ASEAN has proved its strong will, takencomprehensive and synchronous approach, pooled public involvement, and forgedcollaboration at national and regional levels to turn challenges intoopportunities for sustainable development.
The PM thanked the AIPA for promptly supporting the adoption of measures andpolicies by regional nations in the fight against COVID-19, and wished that thedialogue will help deepen links between governments and parliaments of the ASEANmember states, contributing to realising the people-oriented and people-centredASEAN Community.
In her capacity as Chair of the 41st General Assembly of the AIPA (AIPA-41), Ngan expressed her belief thatwith the determination and strong will, ASEAN people will push back the pandemic,restore socio-economic activities to achieve the ASEAN Vision 2025.
TheAIPA highly evaluated the grouping’s common efforts to effectively cope withunprecedented challenges caused by COVID-19, pledged to continue partnering withASEAN governments to combat the pandemic, improve the national capacity ofcontingency response to ensure people’s lives and safety, thus maintainingstability for regional development, she said.
Ngan said leaders of the ASEAN parliaments highly valued the theme of ASEAN Year2020 “Cohesive and Responsive” that suits its desire to build ASEAN into a common homeof independent, dynamic, united and developed nations in Southeast Asia so that the ASEAN will raise increasingly important voices in the evolving architecture in theregion and the world.
She added that the AIPA wants to conduct more exchanges with ASEAN at all levels toraise public awareness of the bloc and harmonise laws in the groupingand make new progress for the common goal of building the ASEAN Community.
On the political-security front, Ngan said the AIPA needs to continuestrengthening cooperation to ensure transparency, openness and law-based approach. The AIPA parliaments highlight the importance of peace, stability, security,maritime and aviation safety and freedom in the East Sea, as well as the promotionof trust building.
The top legislator highlighted the need to exercise self-restraint, preventacts that could complicate the situation, settle disputes via peaceful measures inline with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention onthe Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). She suggested enhancing practical coordination between the AIPA and ASEAN, upholding partnership in regional connectivity and improvingthe capacity of ASEAN countries in coping with non-traditional security issues.
In order to build an inclusive and self-resilient ASEAN Economic Community, shesaid the AIPA members commit to working closely together to build policies forcircular economic development, renewable energy, innovation, thus adapting to the fourth industrial revolution.
According to the Chairwoman, they will prioritise efforts to soon sign the RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), promote sustainable development in the ASEAN Community, continue expanding the ASEAN Smart Cities Network and reinforcingpublic health system.
In the immediate future, she suggested that the ASEAN should focus on economicrecovery following COVID-19, opening trade and investment markets, connect with global supply chains, ensure food security, improve access to medicines andmedical equipment at reasonable prices, boost the development of industrieswith intellectuals and digital economy, contributing to enhancing resilience ofregional and global economies in the face of pandemics.
About socio-culture, Ngan said the AIPA encourages the improvement of the role ofwomen, children and the elderly in carrying out socio-economic developmentpolicies, hails ASEAN efforts to promote gender equality and womenempowerment in 2020.
The leader called on the AIPA members to raise their sense of responsibility forcoordinating with ASEAN governments to deliver on commitments in importantareas, including human resources and sustainable development, and plastic wasteprevention.
She suggested promptly issuing policies on education, unemployment, publichealth system, including improving access to vaccines and necessities forvulnerable groups and those hit by COVID-19, helping to strengthen regional resilience.
The NA Chairwoman urged enhancing the involvement of AIPA youngparliamentarians, towards the establishment of AIPA Young Parliamentarians’Forum and exchanging with ASEAN Youth Forum.
The AIPA calls on ASEAN member states to further strengthen the spirit offriendship, cooperation, responsibility and respect of diversity in the blocwhile expanding sustainable tourism development.
In order to build a more prosperous, sustainable, cohesive and responsive community, the AIPA and ASEAN need to deepen their partnership. With the common determination and mutual trust, the ASEAN will weather every difficulty and enter a newpath for bright development, she said./.
