Vietnam will do its utmost to prepare for and make the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU-132) a success, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung assured IPU President Saber Chowdhury during a reception in Hanoi on March 25.

The PM said Vietnam highly values the role of IPU, an international organisation and multilateral forum, for the sake of peace, security, friendship, cooperation, development, freedom, democracy, human rights, gender equality, progress and social justice, all of which are compatible with Vietnam’s development orientations.

The country also appreciates the IPU-132’s theme “Sustainable development goals: Turning words into action” which he said is appropriate for the 2015 context and the IPU strategy for 2012-2017, he said.

Vietnam will act out its role as a responsible and active member of the IPU and support the IPU’s role in the United Nations General Assembly, he affirmed.

Chowdhury hailed Vietnam for its thorough preparations for IPU-132, and said its agenda will cover key issues of global concern, including water resources, cyber security and international law.

Vietnam is an exemplary model in terms of sustainable development, poverty reduction, climate change response and disaster mitigation, he said, adding that the IPU-132 and the pending Hanoi Declaration approval would contribute to the UN’s policymaking and post-2015 sustainable development goals.

He has full confidence that the IPU-132 will be a success, reaching crucial consensus for the common development of the IPU and international community at large.

NA Chairman welcomes IPU leaders

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung hosted a reception for President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Saber Chowdhury and IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong on March 25, both of whom are in Hanoi to attend the 132 nd IPU Assembly (IPU-132).

The top legislator thanked the union’s leaders and its secretariat for supporting Vietnam’s preparations for the large-scale diplomatic event.

The IPU-132 organising board welcomed the IPU leaders’ opinions and comments on the preparation process, particularly those relating to the assembly’s working programme, agenda and theme “Sustainable development goals: Turning words into action”, he said.

Their comments have helped solidify discussion content, draft resolutions and the joint declaration to be adopted at the assembly, he added.

The NA leader affirmed that the success of the IPU-132 will contribute to raising the union’s role in the international arena and achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, as well as contributing to the World Summit of Legislators to be held later this year.

The IPU President and Secretary General expressed their delight at visiting Hanoi and joining the 132 nd assembly, highlighting their good impressions of the host country’s preparations.

President Saber Chowdhury said the event contents are practical and cover a wide range of important global issues, including water, network security and international law.

He expressed his belief that the IPU-132 hosted by Vietnam will be a success, providing participants with positive impressions of the country through its thorough preparation, hospitability and practical decisions contributing to the development of the IPU and the international community.-

Indonesian Ambassador: IPU-132 helps address global challenges

The decision to elaborate the topic on sustainable development issue for the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) Assembly reflects a great concern toward the challenges faced by the planet, said the Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, Ambassador Mayerfas said for years, many countries have only focus on economic growth, disregarding the sustainable practices in development, which by now has put the Earth and Humanity at serious problems.

“As part of the result, now and in the future, we have to deal with global issues such as climate change, energy and food security, extreme poverty, and clean water shortage,’ he said.

According to the diplomat, one of the most appropriate forums to discuss how to tackle these issues is in the Parliament, which can contribute and bring a major impact in shaping and ensuring the best policy implementation to confront the global problems.

“The discussions on the topic and main contents as well as the outcome of the IPU-132 are quite significant in contributing to the better world,” he emphasised.

Through the IPU-132, there will be an exchange of experience and knowledge as well as best practice among parliaments throughout the world, he said.

He said he hopes that the deliberations during the IPU-132 will not end in the meeting tables, but can be delivered into a global action, real programme, and substantial results.

The Ambassador spoke of Vietnam’s preparations for the event, saying “Vietnam is ready to host such a very important event.

The information on the preparation for the IPU-132 and all related aspects provided by the Organising Committee gave us a big picture about the meeting, he added.

The IPU-132 Assembly will take place in Hanoi from March 28-April 1 under the theme “Sustainable development goals: Turning words into action”.

During the four-day event, delegates will attend 67 sessions, discussing and adopting several draft resolutions on cyber warfare, water governance, and international law in relation with national sovereignty, according to the Organising Committee.

VNA