Vietnam was committed to hosting the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132), which would be held in Hanoi from March 28 to April 1, National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said at the NA Standing Committee’s 36th session on March 9.
The IPU-132 would provide important messages on peace, democracy and social justice, Hung said, adding that it would also be a great opportunity to promote Vietnamese nation, people, and parliament.
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| Final rehearsal of the opening ceremony of IPU-123 Assembly in Ba Dinh conference hall in Hanoi__Photo: Doan Tan/VNA |
The Vietnamese delegation would participate in sessions that focus on cyber war, water governance, children’s rights, the role of legislative bodies in ensuring adequate healthcare services for women and children, democracy in the digital age and threats to personal and privacy rights, the NA leader said.
He stressed that preparation for the event is especially important as it would leave an ineffaceable impression on international partners. The aim is to show Vietnam as a forward-looking and peaceful country with friendly and hospitable people.
* At a press conference to announce the agenda of IPU-132 on March 19, Chairman of the NA’s Committee for External Relations Tran Van Hang, who is also the standing deputy head of the IPU-132 organizing committee, said the IPU- 132 is the largest diplomatic event in Vietnam with numerous delegates.
Over 160 international delegations with about 1,600 delegates have registered to attend the event so far, in which there are 45 NAs’ chairpersons and 50 NAs’ vice chairpersons, he said.
Ngo Duc Manh, vice chairman of the NA’s Committee for External Relations, said that the four-day event would run 67 sessions to discuss and finalize draft resolutions on cyber warfare - a serious threat to peace and global security, shaping a new system of water governance: promoting parliamentary action on water, and international law as it relates to national sovereignty, non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and human rights.
All Vietnamese ministries and sectors have actively joined to prepare for the event. Until now, all preparation works have been completed professionally and thoroughly. Vietnam is ready for the IPU-132, Manh stressed.
Themed “The Sustainable Development Goals: Turning Words into Actions,” the assembly is scheduled to hold a plenary session, meetings between standing committees, a summit of female parliamentarians and a forum of young legislators.
Other events will include meetings of the Association of General Secretaries of Parliaments, different geo-political groups, and bilateral discussions between guests.
The IPU is expected to adopt the Hanoi Declaration as an official document to be submitted to heads of legislative bodies in August and to the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015.-
