NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan speaks at the closing ceremony. (Photo: VNA)

During the event, the Stortinget (supreme legislature of Norway) and the Parliament of Morocco were conferred a formal status of Observers of AIPA.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan voiced her expectation that the relations of AIPA, AIPA member parliaments and observing parliaments of AIPA would be further deepened.

Speaker of the House of Representatives of Morocco Habib El Malki expressed the willingness of the Moroccan legislative body to contribute to and share experiences with AIPA member parliaments.

He said he hopes that the Moroccan parliament’s experiences with African, Arabian, Mediterranean, Latin American countries will be useful for AIPA.

President of the Norwegian Storting Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen said she felt a deep honour that the Norwegian parliament was selected as an AIPA observer as this year marks the fifth anniversary of ASEAN-Norway partnership.

At the closing ceremony, President of the Lao National Assembly Pany Yathotou and First-Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Tong Thi Phong were presented with awards for excellent contributions to the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.

They vowed to make more contributions to the development of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said step ahead for AIPA to implement its guidelines and targets, including promoting solidarity, understanding and close cooperation between ASEAN member countries’ parliaments and accompanying the governments in building a community for peace, stability and people’s interests.

She underlined traditional and non-traditional security challenges facing the region and the world, saying that AIPA should enhance solidarity and parliamentary diplomacy, adhere to international law, the UN Charter and ASEAN Charter in order to build a cohesive and responsive ASEAN Community.

She stressed that sustainable peace and security are foundation for long-term and prosperous development. Therefore, AIPA has always upheld the enhancement of partnership and dialogue with ASSEAN at various levels, she said, adding that AIPA supports ASEAN in signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) this year and welcomes the establishment of an ASEAN fund for responding to COVID-19.

The closing ceremony ended with the transfer of the AIPA chairmanship to Brunei.

The Brunei Ambassador to Vietnam receives a hammer – the AIPA’s symbol – from AIPA 41 Chair Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (Photo: VNA)

On behalf of the Speaker of the Brunei Legislative Council, the Brunei Ambassador to Vietnam received a hammer – the AIPA’s symbol – from AIPA 41 Chair Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

After the closing ceremony, a press conference announcing outcomes of AIPA 41 was held under the chair of National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, who is also the Chair of AIPA 41.

Brunei assumes AIPA chairmanship, highly values host Vietnam’s leadership

Speaker of the Legislative Council of Brunei Pehin Abdul Rahman Taib on September 10 appreciated Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan’s exceptional leadership, efforts and dedication in fostering parliamentary diplomacy to drive the ASEAN region towards being more cohesive and responsive.

Via teleconference, the top legislator of Brunei delivered a speech on the assumption of the chairmanship of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). On behalf of the speaker, the Bruneian Ambassador to Vietnam received the chairmanship hammer from Chairwoman Ngan at the closing ceremony of the 41st AIPA General Assembly (AIPA 41) in Hanoi on September 10.

In his address, the speaker expressed his honour to assume the role and congratulated Chairwoman Ngan and the Vietnamese NA on successfully convening this year’s AIPA General Assembly virtually, despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this difficult time, it is even more crucial to strengthen partnerships within AIPA, as well as to reach out strategically to the dialogue partners on issues that are of mutual concern regionally and internationally, he said, noting that during Brunei’s chairmanship, the country looks forward to working closely with the AIPA Secretariat as well as member parliaments to continue building on the good work in the past in ensuring the realisation of AIPA’s visions and aspirations.

“In this light, I would like to seek the support and cooperation from the speakers and parliamentarians of AIPA member parliaments as well as our dialogue partners and relevant stakeholders towards the success of our AIPA Presidency,” he added.

With regards to the hosting of the next AIPA General Assembly, the speaker noted that the Legislative Council of Brunei has already started making arrangements for the 42nd AIPA General Assembly in Bandar Seri Begawan next year.

“However, with still much uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to strive to meet via whatever available means permitted in the future. Regardless of the situation, however, the Legislative Council of Brunei Darussalam would like to assure you of our utmost commitment to put in our best effort during our AIPA Presidency in the next year,” Pehin Abdul Rahman Taib said.

The AIPA 41 from September 8 to 10, held online for the first time in history, took place under the theme “Parliamentary Diplomacy for a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community”.

Earlier, Vietnam served as the Chair of the 23rd and 31st AIPA general assemblies in 2002 and 2010, respectively.

AIPA-41: Top Lao legislator praises Vietnam’s high sense of responsibility

The 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-41) demonstrated the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA)’s high sense of responsibility, creativity, capacity, and experience in organisation, the top Lao legislator has said.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) following the conclusion of AIPA-41 on September 10, Chairwoman of the Lao NA Pany Yathotou said all participating parliaments, including the Lao NA, highly valued Vietnam’s organisation capacity given the complexity of COVID-19.

The country has made every effort to fulfil its AIPA Chairmanship role, she went on, adding that it had good consultation mechanisms with other AIPA member parliaments, helping to accelerate the ratification of different resolutions with high consensus.

The most outstanding result of the meeting was the building of solidarity within AIPA, she said, adding that the host plays an important role in this regard.

She also said that issues on the agenda were significant for the region and met the aspirations of ASEAN residents.

The spirit of the meeting will be upheld in reality, with attention paid to cooperation with governments in implementing resolutions adopted by ASEAN leaders, especially those regarding the fight against the pandemic.

The Lao NA will also continue with its legislative role in issuing laws that serve as the foundation for the realisation of the resolutions, she said.

AIPA 41 consolidates Vietnamese National Assembly’s reputation in world arena

Announcing the outcomes of the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41) held from September 8 to 10 via teleconference, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan attributed the successful organisation of the event to efforts and determination of the Vietnamese National Assembly and AIPA member parliaments.

At a press conference in Hanoi on September 10 following the closing ceremony of AIPA 41, National Assembly Chairwoman Ngan said the successful General Assembly consolidated reputation of Vietnam in general and its National Assembly in particular in the world arena.

She said that participants at all the meetings within AIPA 41 spoke highly of and expressed appreciation towards the careful preparation by Vietnamese National Assembly.

Ngan stressed the relevance of AIPA 41’s theme “Parliamentary Diplomacy for a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community”, especially given the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIPA has shown its support to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in response to the pandemic as well as recovering the economy, she added.

AIPA member parliaments agreed on promoting digital economy and take advantage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in post-pandemic recovery, Ngan said.

The top parliamentarian also highlighted Vietnam’s initiative on setting up a forum for young parliamentarians of AIPA which has been warmly welcomed by members of AIPA.

Having received high consensus from AIPA member parliaments, the meeting of young parliamentarians of AIPA is expected to be an official mechanism within AIPA General Assembly in the following years after the AIPA Secretariat finalises protocols and procedures.

With such meetings to be held on an annual basis, young parliamentarians within ASEAN now have a forum to express desires and make practical contributions to the development of ASEAN, she added.