Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan will attend the 140th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-140) and related meetings in Doha, Qatar.

Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (L) and IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron

Invited by IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron, and Chairman of the Consultative Assembly of Qatar Ahmad Bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, the top legislator’s attendance at IPU-140 aims to affirm Vietnam’s commitment to proactively engage in multilateral diplomacy. 

It will help Vietnam not only enhance its international position by participating in the settlement of regional and global challenges, but also capitalise on international support for and attention to regional security issues that involve the Southeast Asian nation.

Established in 1889 in Paris, France, the IPU comprises 178 members and 12 associate members. It aims to enhance exchanges between parliaments and contribute to protecting human rights worldwide.

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

In October 2007, at the 117th IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, the Vietnamese NA was elected to the IPU Executive Committee – the forum’s highest body – for the first time. 

In 2009, a representative from the Vietnamese National Assembly was designated as IPU Vice President. 

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.

In May, 2017, Vietnam hosted the IPU’s regional seminar for the -Pacific on responding to climate change and actions of parliaments to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ho Chi Minh City.

At the 138th IPU Assembly in Switzerland, NA Chairwoman Ngan delivered a speech, making recommendations and initiatives to address challenges of migration, and affirmed the need to maintain peace for sustainable development. She also proposed IPU member countries effectively implement the the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and called on IPU member parliaments to review legal policies concerning education, healthcare, jobs and equal treatment for refugees.

At the plenary session of the 139th IPU Assembly in Switzerland, NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu stated Vietnam is willing to work with other countries, the IPU, UN and other international organisations on collaborative programmes and projects in science and technology.-VN