VietNamNet Bridge – Historical hallmark in parliament history, active participation in UN Summits, declaration on the ASEAN Community establishment and Viet Nam’s commitments at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP) are remarkable multilateral diplomatic events in 2015.

Photos: VGP

Historical hallmark in parliament history

Organized from March 28-April 1, the IPU-132 is one of the largest political and diplomatic events Viet Nam has hosted, showing the country as 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.

Accelerating Mekong-Japan cooperation

Japan pledged to offer fresh aid worth 750 billion yen (US$6.1 billion) in official development assistance to five Southeast Asian countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region over the next three years to accelerate development. The aid was announced at the 7th Mekong-Japan Summit in Tokyo between leaders of Japan and the Mekong nations namely Viet Nam, Lao, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand.

Speaking at the Summit, PM Nguyen Tan Dung stressed that maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea is the common aspiration, the interest and responsibility of all countries in the region and beyond.

Relevant parties should adhere to the principle of self-restraint without complicating the situation, changing the status quo, using or threatening to use of force. Disputes must be settled peacefully on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea he added.

Active participation in UN Summits

State President Truong Tan Sang attended the United Nations Summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda in New York, the U.S. from September 24-28 at the invitation of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Speaking at the Summit, State President Sang emphasized three key points to ensure successful realization of the UN led sustainable development goals.

He said that only by ensuring peace and stability can we pool adequate resources and foster the necessary partnerships for SDG implementation.

The realization of the 2030 Agenda required strong political will and full and effective mobilization of domestic resources and it is imperative to strengthen the global partnership for sustainable development, stressed State President Sang.

On the occasion, State President Truong Tan Sang also shared Viet Nam’s experiences of sustainable rural and community development and poverty reduction UN high level dialogues in New York.

He also took the occasion to attend policy dialogue Asia Society, Viet Nam-U.S. dialogue, meet with U.S. officials.

APEC’s joint efforts for inclusive growth

The State President attended the 23rd APEC Summit’s session themed “Inclusive Growth through Sustainable and Resilient Communities” in Manila, the Philippines from November 17-19.

State President Sang called on APEC member economies to heighten community-based efforts to minimize disaster risks, align efforts to ensure food security with climate change response, and promote sustainable agriculture through new technology application in order to achieve inclusive growth.

The leaders at APEC adopted the Declaration on “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World: A Vision for an Asia-Pacific Community”, and the two annexes accompanying the declaration, including the APEC Strategy for Strengthening Quality Growth and the APEC Services Cooperation Framework.

Declaration on the ASEAN Community establishment

PM Nguyen Tan Dung led a Vietnamese high-ranking delegation to attend the 27th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from November 21-22.

Leaders of the 10 ASEAN member countries signed the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Community at the 27th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on November 22.

The Declaration affirmed commitment to the ASEAN Charter, which reflects our desire and collective will to live in a region of lasting peace, security and stability, sustained economic growth, shared prosperity and social progress.

VN and historical agreement at COP21

PM Nguyen Tan Dung announced that Viet Nam will contribute US$1 million to the Green Climate Fund from 2016-20 during his speech at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that opened in Paris on December 1 in Paris, France.

Viet Nam will keep its commitment of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 8% by 2030 and by up to 25% with international support.

The leader noted that the recently-adopted Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development requires a strong political commitment and close cooperation to seriously, fully and effectively realize the global climate agreement beyond 2020.

VGP