ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of AIPA a success: Official

The ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) as part of the virtual 36th ASEAN Summit on June 26 was a success particularly in terms of the government – parliament connection, according to the Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Committee for External Relations Nguyen Van Giau.

National Assembly Chairwoman speaks at the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (Photo: VNA)
National Assembly Chairwoman speaks at the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (Photo: VNA)

According to Giau, if there was no COVID-19 pandemic, participants would have discussed more issues, including commitments among governments in the ASEAN Community and the implementation of policies and agreements.

The interface focused on discussing COVID-19-related matters, with delegates hailing the concerted efforts made by the governments, parliaments and people of ASEAN member states. Such efforts have contributed to effectively initially controlling the pandemic.

Highlighting the speech given by NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan as Chair of the 41st General Assembly of the AIPA (AIPA-41), the official said it communicated the message initiated by the Vietnamese legislature and agreed by the parliaments of member states.

Regarding Vietnam’s AIPA chairmanship as part of its ASEAN Chair 2020, Chairman Giau said the pandemic has changed many of the traditional activities, for example, face-to-face meetings being replaced by online ones. Virtual meetings hosted by Vietnam have been highly valued by ASEAN governments and law-making bodies, he noted.

Concerning the contribution of Vietnam as AIPA 41 Chair to COVID-19 prevention and control and the building of a strong ASEAN Community, he mentioned the NA leader’s letter urging AIPA member parliaments to join hands in protecting ASEAN from the pandemic. The letter has received significant positive feedback, he added.

The interface demonstrated Vietnam’s sense of responsibility as the ASEAN and AIPA host country in 2020 as well as the spirit of solidarity and consensus of ASEAN member countries in their joint work to overcome the pandemic and further enhance the task of building the ASEAN Community.

At the function, the Vietnamese NA spoke highly of and agreed with the positive progress recorded in the ASEAN Community, which, under the chairmanship of Vietnam this year, will improve bloc solidarity and promote ASEAN’s central role in the region. The Vietnamese NA is now working to prepare the content and theme of the AIPA-41 General Assembly.

Participants in the interface hoped AIPA would continue its role as an important partner of ASEAN, boost cooperation, dialogue, and information exchange among parliaments, and coordinate in the implementation of the programme on building the ASEAN community.