Historical mark for parliament history

Organized from March 28-April 1, the IPU-132 is one of the largest political and diplomatic event Viet Nam has hosted, showing the active spirit of an active and responsible member in the international community.

With the theme “Sustainable Development Goals: Turning Words into Action”, the event attracted more than 1,600 delegates from 160 parliaments to discuss crucial issues.

The IPU’s Standing Committees adopted four important resolutions on cyber warfare - a serious threat to peace and global security; shaping a new system of water governance: Promoting parliamentary action on water; international law as it relates to national sovereignty, non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and human rights; and combating threat of terrorism conducted by organizations such as Boko Haram against innocent civilians, in particular women and girls.

The adoption of the Ha Noi Declaration raised the voice of parliaments, contributing to protecting peace and enhancing cooperation among nations and reflecting the vision, commitment and activity of members for the sake of each nation and people and promoting global cooperation.

IPU President Saber Chowdhury expected that the new trends will become a milestone marking changes in awareness and approaches, describing the Declaration as a heritage of Viet Nam to the world.

Promoting the traditional relationship with Laos

State President Truong Tan Sang made an official and working visit to Laos from March 23-25 at the invitation of Lao Party General Secretary and President Chummaly Sayasone.

At their talks, the two presidents asserted to accelerate the traditional and special relationship between Viet Nam and Laos.

They agreed to enhance cooperation in terms of national defense and security, striving to raise the two-way trade turnover to US$2 billion in 2015, up 40% compared to the previous year.

The two sides exchanged the maintenance of peace and stability on the East Sea and sustainable exploitation of the water resource in the Mekong River, including the construction of hydroelectric plants on the river.

Strengthening cooperation with Australia, New Zealand

PM Nguyen Tan Dung’s official visits to Australia (March 17-18) and New Zealand (March 19-20) have launched a number of priorities and cooperative opportunities between Viet Nam and these two oceanic nations.

At talks with Australian PM Tony Abbott, the two sides discussed and highly valued  developments in the Comprehensive Partnership, agreeing measures to promote the relations in prioritized areas, including politics, national defense and security, economics, trade, investment, communications, science, technology, agriculture, transport, education and training.

They asserted the importance of ensuring marine peace, stability, security, safety and freedom in the East Sea and deal with disputes based on  international laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, calling on all sides to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), restrain and prevent actions to cause tensions in the region such as compelling and using forces to change the status quo as well as agreed to establish the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The two sides issued a joint Declaration and signed a Declaration on strengthening the Comprehensive Partnership and other four crucial documents including the Agreement on Labor and Vacation, the Agreement on launching the Asia-Australia Cooperative Program against human trafficking, the two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on overcoming consequences of bombs and mines and maintaining peace in Viet Nam.

At the talks with New Zealand’s PM John Key, the two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation, especially since the two countries established the comprehensive partnership in 2009, and agreed on a common vision on promoting and deepening the comprehensive partnership to elevate it to a strategic partnership in the future.

The two countries will open a direct flight to promote trade, tourism and people-to-people relations.

The PM’s official visits are special as PM Dung and his Australian and New Zealand counterparts agreed to upgrade the relations from Comprehensive Partnership to a higher level, heading to Strategic Partnership and create a framework and foundation for long-term cooperative activities in the future.

Expanding cooperation in national security, defense

Minister of Public Security General Tran Dai Quang held talks with US Secretary of Homeland Security Charles Johnson and Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) James Comey during his official visit to the US from March 15-20.

At these talks, the two sides agreed to upgrade the cooperative relations in fields of security and police, exchanging information and sharing experiences in crime prevention and control to promote Viet Nam-US Comprehensive Partnership relations.

A high-ranking military mission, led by General Phung Quang Thanh, Minister of National Defense, took part in the 9th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM-9) in Malaysia from March 14th and 18th.

At the meeting, Viet Nam highlighted the importance of honesty and responsibility among member countries in ensuring and maintaining peace, stability, security, and safety in the region as well as the need to continue strengthening ASEAN’s common stance on the restraint of force and settling disputes through peaceful measures in conformity with the United Nations Charter and international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The nation also proposed to form a mechanism to respond promptly to non-traditional security challenges which threatens the safety and development of the community.

During the second meeting of Viet Nam-Thailand Joint Committee on bilateral cooperation co-chaired by Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and his Thai counterpart Thanasak Patimapragorn in Ha Noi on March 20, both sides agreed to raise two-way trade to US$15 billion in 2020.

Regarding the East Sea issues, both sides concurred to coordinate closely in promoting the settling of disputes through peaceful measures with respect for international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. They also highlighted the importance of full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.

Other diplomatic activities were organized in March such as Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan’s official visit to Myanmar, Venezuelan Vice President Elias Jose Jaua Milano’s visit to Viet Nam to join the meeting of Viet Nam-Venezuela Inter-Governmental Committee and Lao FM Thoonglun Sisoulith’s visit to Viet Nam.

Source: VGP