National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man attended a ceremony on the afternoon of August 21 announcing a resolution by the National Assembly Standing Committee on the establishment of the 16th-term Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Organization.

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National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man presents the resolution to the presidium of the 16th-term Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Organization. Photo: QH.

At the ceremony, Ta Thi Yen, deputy chairwoman of the Committee for Deputy Affairs, announced the establishment of 64 parliamentary friendship groups and the appointment of their respective chairs.

Permanent Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Do Van Chien was named chairman of the Vietnam-Laos Parliamentary Friendship Group.

National Assembly Deputy Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh will chair the Vietnam-Cambodia Parliamentary Friendship Group, while Deputy Chairman Nguyen Doan Anh will head the Vietnam-China group.

Deputy Chairman Nguyen Khac Dinh was appointed chairman of the Vietnam-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group, Deputy Chairman Nguyen Hong Dien will lead the Vietnam-Australia group, and Deputy Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Hong will chair the Vietnam-US group.

The presidium of the Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Organization consists of a chairman, vice chairmen and a secretary general.

Do Van Chien serves as chairman of the organization for the 16th National Assembly. Its vice chairmen are Le Tan Toi, chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for National Defense, Security and Foreign Affairs; Vu Hai Ha, permanent deputy chairman of the same committee; and Le Quang Manh, secretary general of the National Assembly and chairman of the National Assembly Office.

Dinh Cong Sy, deputy chairman of the Committee for National Defense, Security and Foreign Affairs, serves as secretary general of the organization.

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The National Assembly chairman joins ambassadors and representatives of foreign diplomatic missions at the ceremony. Photo: QH.

Speaking at the ceremony, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man said the launch of the organization, comprising 64 friendship groups with foreign parliaments, was significant both to the work of Vietnam’s legislature and to its external relations with parliaments around the world.

Tran Thanh Man said that after 40 years of Doi Moi, or economic and political renewal, Vietnam had achieved significant and comprehensive progress in the economy, society, national defense, security, foreign affairs and the development of its political system, with diplomacy playing an important role.

Parliamentary diplomacy, he said, has increasingly demonstrated its distinctive role while working closely alongside Party-to-Party relations, state diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy, becoming an important diplomatic channel contributing to Vietnam’s broader foreign relations.

Alongside its responsibilities for institutional development, oversight and decisions on major national issues, the National Assembly’s external activities seek to maintain and strengthen friendship between Vietnam’s legislature and foreign parliaments, political circles and peoples, while effectively mobilizing resources for national development.

As Vietnam expands its foreign relations and international integration, Tran Thanh Man said parliamentary friendship groups have become active bridges for inter-parliamentary cooperation, helping strengthen mutual understanding and political trust while building support for Vietnam among foreign lawmakers, parliaments and political circles.

He called on the chairs of the friendship groups and National Assembly deputies to devote their time, expertise, experience and commitment to the groups’ activities. He also expressed hope that ambassadors and diplomatic missions in Vietnam would use their experience and influence to support the National Assembly’s external relations and the work of the friendship groups.

Speaking on behalf of the presidium of the 16th-term Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Organization, Do Van Chien said parliamentary friendship serves as a bridge connecting Vietnam’s National Assembly with legislatures around the world, helping consolidate trust, deepen cooperation and contribute to a peaceful and prosperous world.

Recognizing its role and responsibilities, Do Van Chien said the organization would work closely with National Assembly bodies and deputies to strengthen understanding, trust and friendship between Vietnam’s legislature and foreign parliaments, while serving as a bridge connecting Vietnamese lawmakers with their counterparts, political leaders and peoples in other countries.

Tran Thuong