Chairwoman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan left Hanoi in the morning of March 24 for Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the 138th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU-138) and related meetings from March 24-25.

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan

Chairwoman Ngan’s attendance at the IPU-138 is made at the invitation of IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Afterwards, the top legislator will pay an official visit to the Netherlands from March 26-28 as guest of Speaker of the House of Representatives Khadija Arib.

She is accompanied by Chairman of the NA’s Committee for External Affairs Nguyen Van Giau, Secretary General and Head of the NA’s Office Nguyen Hanh Phuc, Chairman of the NA’s Council for Ethnic Affairs Ha Ngoc Chien, Chairman of the NA’s Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Phan Xuan Dung and Chairman of the NA’s Committee for Finance-Budget Nguyen Duc Hai.

Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Tran Don have also joined the high-ranking delegation, among others.

Vietnam’s participation in IPU activities is one of the most important tasks of the legislature’s multilateral parliamentary diplomacy to protect Vietnam’s interests, consult international points of view and show the country’s stance on global issues.

They are also chances for Vietnam to promote its land and people to the international community, expand its presence and enhance the position of the NA in particular and the country in general in the international arena

Since Vietnam joined in April 1979, its active participation has been acknowledged by other members. Over the years, relations between the Vietnamese NA and other parliaments have been strengthened. 

In October 2007 at the 117th IPU Assembly also in Geneva, Switzerland, the Vietnamese NA was elected to the IPU Executive Committee - the forum’s highest body - for the first time. A representative from the Vietnamese NA was designated as IPU Vice President in 2009. 

Notably, in April 2015, Vietnam hosted the 132nd IPU Assembly, where the Hanoi Declaration was adopted, contributing to devising the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. 

In October 2016, at the 135th IPU Assembly in Switzerland, Chairman of the NA’s Committee for External Affairs Nguyen Van Giau was elected to the IPU Executive Committee for 2016-2019.-VNA