Since its accession to the Inter-Parliament Union (IPU) from the 1970s,Vietnam has made vigorous contributions to the IPU’s activities, makinggreat efforts to boost its relations with the member parliaments in theworld, IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong told the Vietnam NewsAgency on the threshold of the IPU-132 Assembly which opens in Hanoi onMarch 28.

Reporter: In your capacity as the IPU SecretaryGeneral, could you say something about the IPU’s role in the situationwhen the world has to face a lot of challenges of global character?

IPU Secretary General: The Inter-Parliament Unionis a political organisation that brings together all the memberparliaments of the sovereign States. Set up in 1889, the IPU is thecentre for the parliamentary dialogue and diplomacy among the law makersrepresenting all the political systems at national and internationallevel and is the place where politicians meet, exchange ideas, discussand learn from each other so as to be able to work better and moreeffectively day by day. The IPU has helped enhance the technicalcooperation among the parliaments, support the training ofparliamentarians to have the knowledge and practical work at theparliament, help develop all the activities relating to the parliament,especially in the developing countries so as to improve the organisationof work, enhance infrastructure, and support the holding of election ofparliamentarians.

The IPU has made efforts toenhance the capacity of the parliament in the protection of human rightsas well as protecting the rights of parliamentarians; boosting genderequality, encourage the participation of women in the parliament and thepolitical issues. In the situation when the world is facing a lot ofglobal issues, the IPU has the close cooperation with otherinternational organisations, especially the trend of having the evercloser cooperation with the UN. The two global organisations havetogether shared the common goal of boosting peace, democracy,cooperation and development and ensuring human rights. With itsimportant role in the life of the international parliament, the IPU hasmade a lot of contributions to the UN’s work and common process in aseries of issues such as climate change, the process of implementing theMillennium Development Goals (MDG) and building the post-2015development agenda, the HIV-AIDS-related issues and the efforts in thefight against Ebola epidemics in Africa.

Eventhough it is possible to make only the recommendations, not the rules ofcompulsory character for implementation, the IPU has mobilised thecontributions of the member parliaments so as to have the suggestedsolutions to the global challenges through exchanges and withdrawal ofexperience, whence the proposals for action can be made, from thepractical activities in the parliament at national level to the creationof impact that will lead to the commitment at international level.

Reporter: How do you assess Vietnam’s contributions to the IPU’sactivities in recent years and the preparatory work of the VietnameseNational Assembly for the IPU-132 Assembly in Hanoi?

IPU Secretary General: Since its accession to the IPU in the 1970s,it can be affirmed that Vietnam has made vigorous contributions to theIPU’s activities, making efforts to boost the relations with the memberparliaments in the world. Vietnam has lot of times held the importantleading positions in the IPU, in the IPU Executive Committee – theleading agency of the IPU – as well as being elected Vice-President ofthe IPU.

The National Assembly of Vietnam hasonce assumed the position of Chairman of the Asia-Pacific GeopoliticalGroup and the ASEAN+3 Group within the framework of the IPU GeneralAssembly. Vietnam has manifested its activeness and a responsible memberin all the activities for the IPU’s goals such as boosting peace anddevelopment in the world, enhancing the role and rights of women andchildren.

Thanks to its contributions to theIPU’s activities, the National Assembly of Vietnam has earned theunderstanding as well as the support of the international community.That Vietnam is to host the meeting of the 132nd IPU General Assemblywill help create an important forum for the member parliaments toexchange the post-2015 development strategy to which the whole world ispaying attention as well as helping raise the voice of the group ofAsian States in the Inter-Parliament Union.

Eventhough I have not worked directly with the 132nd IPU Organising Board,via the assessments of my colleagues in charge of coordinating withVietnam, I can see the confidence in the careful and detailedpreparation of the host country of Vietnam concerning not only thelogistics, but the content and subjects for discussions as well.-VNA