Art performance at the opening ceremony (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary
Assembly (AIPA-41) opened in Hanoi on September 8 under the theme of
“Parliamentary Diplomacy for a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community”.
Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan will deliver an opening
speech.
A wide range of activities are scheduled on the day, comprising the first
plenary session, a meeting of Women Parliamentarians of AIPA (WAIPA), and an
unofficial meeting of young AIPA parliamentarians.
Together with ASEAN, AIPA has made significant contributions to regional
connectivity and cooperation for mutual development of the ASEAN member states.
In a bid to consolidate solidarity within the ASEAN bloc, AIPA and parliaments
of member countries will work closely with governments of the ASEAN nations to
seek measures to build the ASEAN Community, as well as promote the central role
of ASEAN in maintaining regional peace and stability.
This will be the
first time in history the AIPA General Assembly is held online amid the
complicated developments of COVID-19, showing the Vietnamese NA's activeness
and flexibility as well as its contributions to reforming the operational mode
of AIPA.
The hosting of AIPA-41 and activities during the AIPA Chairmanship Year 2020
reflect the Vietnamese legislature's active, responsible and practical
contributions to the AIPA as well as make important contributions to
strengthening solidarity and guiding the organisation's common efforts to
assist ASEAN in building its Community, including performing key tasks of
overcoming adverse impacts of the pandemic, maintaining economic development,
and ensuring social welfare for all citizens.
According to the organising committee, over 380 delegates will attend the
AIPA-41 online via 43 locations./.
VNA