On the occasion, Nguyen Van Giau, Chairman of the NA’s Committee for External Relations, answered reporters’ queries concerning the outcomes of the top legislator’s newly-concluded overseas trip.
Q: The high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese NA were proactively and actively engaged in activities and programmes of AIPA 40. What are Vietnam’s key activities in Thailand that have left a good impression among international friends?
A: Right from the first day of coming to AIPA 40, the Vietnamese delegation attended a meeting of the AIPA Executive Committee, during which Chairwoman Ngan was unanimously elected as the Vice President of AIPA 40 by the participating delegates.
The conference discussed important issues and decided the agenda of AIPA 40. Excluding the Political Committee which had yet to convene for a meeting, the contents of the other Committees achieved good results. In particular, the Vietnamese NA delegation were proactively and actively engaged and proposed many important and practical ideas, which won high appreciation from regional and international friends.
Notably, at the opening session of AIPA 40, Chairwoman Ngan delivered an important speech which comprehensively touched upon the challenges and opportunities posed in the development process of nations, and frankly mentioned the unilateral activities in the East Sea. The top legislator stressed the need to uphold compliance with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), exercise self-restraint, not conduct militarisation and actions that complicate the situation, fully and strictly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and strive to soon finalise a legally binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law. Additionally, during dialouges between countries, the Vietnamese delegation continued to put forward this stance and received the support of international friends. This is one of the important highlights of the Vietnam NA delegation at AIPA 40.
AIPA 40 also adopted a joint release with some of the top goals being to build a sustainable ASEAN Community and resolve disputes in accordance with international law. AIPA 40 passed 27 resolutions, including 17 on organisation, six on the economy and four on society. These resolutions all touch upon the specific, practical, people-centred issues.
 |
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan speaks at the plenary session of AIPA 40 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: VNA)
Q: The official visit to Thailand made by NA Chairwoman Ngan and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation achieved good results across many aspects. Could you please elaborate on those results?
A: NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and the high-ranking Vietnamese NA delegation paid an official visit to Thailand and received a very respectful, sincere and open welcome. During the visit, the NA leader had meetings and talks with senior Thai leaders, and visited Udon Thani province, which has a relic site dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh and accommodates a large community of Vietnamese-origin people.
During the meetings with the Prime Minister of Thailand and the Speaker of the Thai Senate, and talks with the Speaker of the Thai House of Representatives, the Thai leaders all expressed their delight to greet the top Vietnamese legislator on her visit Thailand as the relations between the two countries are growing well. The two sides highly appreciated the achievements attained in bilateral ties across various spheres, particularly the economy. The leaders held that Vietnam and Thailand always support each other at multilateral forums. In particular, the hosts spoke highly of the Vietnamese community living and working in Thailand, with noble qualities such as hard work, diligence and high responsibility. The Vietnamese community in Thailand are playing an increasingly crucial role in the development of the friendly relations between the two countries and have contributed to Thailand’s socio-economic development. The two sides agreed to continue to bring bilateral ties as a whole and cooperation between the two parliaments to new heights.
The Thai leaders affirmed that whenever difficulties and hindrances occur in Vietnam-Thailand relations, the two countries would work to resolve and remove them, primarily on the basis of a close and sincere friendship.
Another deep imprint on NA Chairwoman Ngan’s official visit to Thailand was witnessing the development, solidarity and mutual support of the Vietnamese community in Thailand as a whole and in Udon Thani province in particular. In Udon Thani, along with preserving and treasuring the President Ho Chi Minh relic site, the overseas Vietnamese always keep in mind of preserving and promoting Vietnam’s traditions and writing. Many expatriates were born and raised in Thailand but are good with the Vietnamese language and have a good understanding of Vietnamese culture and history. This is an exemplary model of overseas Vietnamese that can be replicated in many places.
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) receives the AIPA chairmanship token for 2019-2020 from Speaker of the Thai House of Representatives Chuan Leekpai. (Photo: VNA)
Q: NA Chairwoman Ngan has assumed the AIPA 41 Chairmanship. How has Vietnam prepared to successfully fulfill the new role?
A: The NA Chairwoman taking over the AIPA 41 Chairmanship for the 2019-2020 tenure is a great honour and pride. Vietnam has pledged to make efforts to fulfill the role and obligations as the AIPA Chair in the next term, calling on the AIPA members and the observer and guest countries to unite and provide support to make AIPA 41 a success. In order to achieve the aforementioned goal, together with the participation and contribution of countries in the region, Vietnam will design the content and scripts of activities for AIPA 41 next year. In addition, it is necessary to research the difficulties and obstacles in the organisation of AIPA 40 to draw experience towards effectively organising AIPA 41.
* NA Chairwoman attends meeting of AIPA 40 executive committee
* NA leader calls for stronger AIPA-ASEAN partnership
* Vietnamese, Cambodian NA leaders meet on sidelines of AIPA 40
* Vietnam treasures friendship, cooperation with Morocco: NA Chairwoman
* Vietnam to work hard for successful AIPA 41 next year: NA Chairwoman
* 40th AIPA General Assembly concludes, Vietnam becomes Chair
* NA Chairwoman meets Speaker of Thai Senate in Bangkok
* Vietnam values strategic partnership with Thailand: NA leader
* Vietnam’s top legislator meets with Thai Prime Minister
