Lao official praises Vietnam’s initiative in organising online AIPA 41
As President of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2020, Vietnam has demonstrated its determination and taken many initiatives in organising the 41st AIPA General Assembly (AIPA 41) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Head of the Lao National Assembly’s external relations committee Eksavang Vongvichit has said.
Head of the Lao National Assembly’s external relations committee Eksavang Vongvichit (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - As President of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly(AIPA) in 2020, Vietnam has demonstrated its determination and taken manyinitiatives in organising the 41st AIPA GeneralAssembly (AIPA 41) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Head of the Lao National Assembly’s external relations committee EksavangVongvichit has said.
In an interview given to the Vietnam News Agency, Eksavang said although thepandemic had affected the organisation of the AIPA 41, the holding of the eventin the form of video conferencing is a timely and sound initiative of theChairwoman and the leadership of Vietnam’s National Assembly (NA).
He also highlighted the importance of AIPA 41’s theme of “Parliamentary diplomacy for a cohesive and proactiveASEAN Community”, saying that countries need coordination and cooperation betweenlegislatures and governments to realise their objectives.
Parliamentary diplomacy plays a crucial role in foreign affairs in generaland in people diplomacy in particular, he stressed, adding that this has contributeda voice to maintaining political stability as well as to other importantmatters such as the economy, culture, society, and gender equality.
This shows that parliamentary diplomacy plays an important role in assisting governmentsto promote and realise the goals and strategic visions agreed by ASEAN countries’leaders at the 36th ASEAN Summit, which was held online by Vietnam recently, henoted.
Vietnam’s NA will host AIPA 41 in the form of ateleconference at Hanoi’s International Convention Centre on September 8-10.
It will consist of an opening ceremony, a closing ceremony, and two plenary sessions,meetings of political, economic and social committees, an AIPA women parliamentariansmeeting, and an unofficial meeting of young AIPA parliamentarians./.
The 35th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (AIPA-35) with the theme "Further strengthening parliamentary cooperation in ASEAN Community building" was held in Vientiane (Laos) from September 14 - 20, 2014
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As President of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) hopes to leave a good impression on international friends, contributing to raising its standing as well as creating cohesion and coordination with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Permanent NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong has said.
The Vietnamese National Assembly will hold the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-41) themed “Parliamentary diplomacy for a cohesive and responsive ASEAN Community” via a video conference from September 8-10, said the organising board at a press conference on September 4.
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Head of the Lao National Assembly’s external relations committee Eksavang Vongvichit (Photo: VNA) 
