Hanoi (VNA) - The National Assembly of Vietnam has proposed organising the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41) in the form of a teleconference at Hanoi’s International Convention Centre on September 8-10, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said on August 5.

Ngan, who is also Chair of AIPA 41, revealed the information while chairing the second meeting of the National Steering Committee and the Organising Committee for AIPA 41 in Hanoi on August 5.

She highlighted the significance of preparations for the event, from technical infrastructure to content, logistics, and communications work, saying content preparation requires close coordination between relevant agencies in order to find consensus among AIPA member and observer countries.

Following the first meeting of the National Steering Committee and the Organising Committee for AIPA 41 in November last year, the head of the Organising Committee signed a decision establishing the AIPA41 National Secretariat and sub-committees, which have adjusted the organisation of AIPA 41 towards teleconferencing.

Ngan sent a letter last March to heads of AIPA member legislatures and the AIPA Secretary General on the COVID-19 pandemic, calling on them to join hands with government in the fight. Her appeal a received a warm response in AIPA member parliaments.

The ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly was also held online within the 36th ASEAN Summit in June.

In June and July, the NA successfully organised the third meeting of the AIPA Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs and the Parliamentary Partnership on Educational and Cultural Cooperation for Sustainable Development./.