IPU-137: Vietnam’s Position Enhanced
As the largest multilateral parliamentary body in the world, with over 120 years of development, the IPU has shown its mission of promoting exchanges of exchange and cooperation among parliaments. The IPU has consulted and expressed views on issues of international interest in order to propose actions to its member parliaments, thereby contributing to the protection and promotion of the principles and norms of international law. It has fostered cooperation among nations towards global peace and security, promoting sustainable development, enhancing the role of women in politics and enhancing dialogues and exchanges on education, science and culture.
The Vietnamese National Assembly high-ranking delegation participated in all IPU-137 activities. During the opening session, Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan delivered a keynote speech with solutions, and recommendations suitable to the world’s current situation, which was highly appreciated by many National Assembly chair people and the heads of parliaments.
 Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan attends the opening ceremony of the 137th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-137) Assembly in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Photo: Trong Duc / VNA  Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and the Vietnamese National Assembly high-ranking delegation attend the plenary session ofIPU-137. Photo: Trong Duc / VNA  Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan addresses the plenary session of IPU-137. Photo: Trong Duc / VNA  Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets the President of IPU Saber Chowdhury. Photo: Trong Duc / VNA  Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets with the Chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia Valentina Ivanovna Matviyenko. Photo: Trong Duc / VNA  Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan receives Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Zhang Ping. Photo: Trong Duc/VNA  Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets with Speaker of the Republic of Korea’s National Assembly Chung Sye-kyun. Photo: Trong Duc/VNA  Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets with Speaker of the Parliament of Iran Ali Ardeshir Larijani. Photo: Trong Duc/VNA |
In her speech, National Assembly Chairwomen Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan proposed five recommendations, with a focus on encouraging IPU’s member parliaments to build better legal mechanisms to guarantee equality for all ethnic groups and religions, and to observe the implementation of those policies. Additionally, countries should be encouraged to create criteria for evaluating the efficiency of their guidelines and laws toward ethnic minorities and religions, promote information dissemination on tolerance, cooperative willingness, solidarity and mutual respect among ethnicities and religions and foster bilateral and multilateral cooperation in culture, religions and ethnic groups among countries and parliaments. The IPU members should associate with the United Nations and international organisations to boost initiatives and actions of law makers for peace, cooperation and solidarity among ethnic groups and religions.
On the sidelines of the 137th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, National Assembly Chairwoman Ngan met the Chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia Valentina Ivanovna Matviyenko, Speaker of the Republic of Korea’s National Assembly Chung Sye-kyun, Speaker of the Parliament of Iran Ali Ardeshir Larijani, and Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Zhang Ping.
During their meetings, the parliament leaders expressed their appreciation of Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, as well as its enhanced position, and proposed to strengthen their parliamentary cooperation and promote regular exchanges of high-level delegations.
On the occasion, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan invited the member countries of the Asia-Pacific region to attend the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) hosted by Vietnam in 2018.
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The IPU-137 had an attendance of over 160 member parliaments with 2,400 official delegates, nearly 100 parliament chair people and 40 parliament vice chair people. |
Strengthening Vietnam-Kazakhstan Cooperation
After attending IPU-137, Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan arrived in Astana, beginning her three-day official visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament Kassym Zhomart Tokayev and Chairman of the Nurlan Nigmatulin.
During the visit, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan held talks with Chairman of the Mazhilis of the Parliament (Lower House) of Kazakhstan Nurlan Nigmatulin. They discussed and agreed on a range of measures to continue fostering and expanding cooperation between the two countries and the two legislatures.
 Chairman of the Mazhilis Nurlan Nigmatulin welcomes National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. Photo: Trong Duc / VNA  National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan talks with Chairman of the Mazhilis, Nurlan Nigmatulin. Photo: Trong Duc / VNA  National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets with the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament Kassym Zhomart Tokayev. Photo: Trong Duc / VNA  National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets with the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament Kassym Zhomart Tokayev. Photo: Trong Duc / VNA  National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets with Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev. Photo: Trong Duc / VNA  National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets with the leaders of the Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan. Photo: Trong Duc / VNA |
The Vietnamese top legislator also met Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan Kassym Zhomart Tokayev; paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev; and held meetings with Deputy Chairman of the ruling Nur Otan Party Abraruly Kul-Mukhammed and First Secretary of the Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan Zhambyl A. Akhmetbekov.
The Kazakhstani leaders expressed their delight at Vietnam’s socio-economic development achievements and affirmed their willingness to expand cooperative relations with Vietnam.
Both sides agreed that collaboration between the two legislatures is an important channel in Vietnam-Kazakhstan relations. They pledged to maintain close at regional and international forums, and continue sharing experience in legislative affairs and ensuring people’s interests in the process of socio-economic development.
They also pledged to increase the exchange of high-level delegations and jointly supervise the implementation of cooperative agreements signed by the two governments. The two sides also look forward to promoting further cooperation in the areas of agriculture, transport, industry, tourism and culture.
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Kazakhstan is the largest country in Central Asia and has a population of just over 16.6 million people. The country has rich natural resources and ranks 8th in the world in terms of oil reserves. Vietnam and Kazakhstan are members of the Vietnam-Eurasia Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (VN-EAEU FTA) which took effect in November 2016. |
By VNA/VNP
