Standing Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man (Photo: VNA)The session, chaired by IPUPresident Duarte Pacheco, was attended by IPU Secretary General Martin Chungongand representatives of 135 member parliaments.
Opening the two-day event,Pacheco said this is the second time the IPU Governing Council has met viavideoconference, following the 206th session in November 2020.
On January 18, the IPUExecutive Committee decided that given the COVID-19 pandemic’s complexdevelopments and impacts, the 142nd IPU Assembly on May 26 will be teleconferencedunder the theme of “Overcoming the pandemic today and building a bettertomorrow: the role of parliaments”.
Pacheco stressed that despitethe complicated COVID-19 situation around the globe, the IPU and memberparliaments have still maintained their normal activities.
He called on memberparliaments to enhance cooperation to seek solutions to defeat the pandemic andboost socio-economic recovery.
The IPU President held thatit is necessary to promote the IPU’s presence and effectiveness, complete itsstrategies to increase women’s participation in the IPU, and consolidate thedemocracy and strength of parliaments around the world.
During the session, delegatesare set to adopt the session’s agenda, the special rules of procedure for thevirtual sessions of the Assembly and standing committees, the summary recordsof the Governing Council’s 206th session, the vision of the IPU President andreport on his activities since the 206th session of the Governing Council, theAnnual IPU Impact Report by the Secretary General on the activities of the IPUin 2020, and the financial results for last year.
The Governing Council willalso elect additional members to the Executive Committee and other IPU bodies./.
VNA
