Vietnam took the Chair of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) in the 2017-2018 tenure from the Republic of Fiji at a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on May 11. 

NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong (R) and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji Ruveni N. Nadalo at the ceremony

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, President of the Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU) Saber Chowdhury, IPU General Secretary Martin Chungong, and representatives from parliaments of Asian-Pacific countries attended the event. 

Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji Ruveni N. Nadalo highlighted the importance of the 25th APPF in his country, which approved resolutions on global issues relating to climate chance, management of natural disaster risks, healthcare, education, and measures to ensure peace, border security, and food security. 

He expressed the belief that the Vietnamese NA, with its experience, will successfully organise the 26th APPF, affirming that Fiji will support Vietnam in the work. 

Meanwhile, NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong said Vietnam is proud of receiving the APPF chairmanship and hosting the 26th annual meeting of APPF in 2018, saying that the Vietnamese legislature highly values activities as well as agenda of the forum.

The forum contributed to promoting the friendship and cooperation between regional parliaments, strengthening the dialogue mechanism and exchanges among parliamentarians, and improving the role of parliaments in addressing regional issues, ensuring peace and sustainable development, she stressed. 

She also affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to focusing and making all-out efforts to successfully organise the 26th APPF.  

Joining the APPF in 1995, the Vietnamese NA always presents its active role and responsibility in APPF’s activities, especially in 2005 – the year that Vietnam hosted the 13th annual meeting of the forum. 

Vietnamese, Fijian legislatures urged to boost ties

The Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) and the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji should enhance exchanges and the sharing of experience in lawmaking to make their ties more practical and effective, said NA Vice Chairman Do Ba Ty.

NA Vice Chairman Do Ba Ty (R) and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji Ruveni N. Nadalo

He made the suggestion at a meeting with Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji Ruveni N. Nadalo on the sidelines of the on-going symposium themed “Climate change and actions of legislators” of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) for the Asia-Pacific region, in HCM City on May 11. 

Vietnam is willing to share experience and support Fiji in training personnel in agriculture, rural development and healthcare, he stressed, hoping that the relations between the two States, including the parliamentary ties will be flourishing for the sake of the two people. 

He hailed active contributions of Fijian parliamentarians to the 25th Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF 25) in Fiji as well as to the IPU’s symposium. 

Vice Chairman Ty said the transfer of the APPF Chairmanship from Fiji to Vietnam marked a significant milestone in the bilateral relations in general and between the two legislative bodies in particular since the two nations established diplomatic ties in 1993. 

For his part, Ruveni N. Nadalo said his country’s Parliament wants to boost cooperation and experience sharing in lawmaking with all countries, including Vietnam, in order to improve the quality of parliamentarians and legislative activities. 

The guest said the Fijian Parliament made strong moves in increasing the rate of female parliamentarians, and encouraging women to involve in making laws and building policies. 

Working visits to Vietnam helped the Fijian Parliament gather valuable experience in raising the number of new and female legislators as well as issues relating to parliamentarians’ operation in making law, he added. 

VNA