Hanoi (VNA) – The ninthGlobal Conference of Young Parliamentarians, themed “TheRole of Young People in Promoting the Realisation of Sustainable DevelopmentGoals via Digital Transformation and Innovations”, opened in Hanoi on September 15.

The opening ceremony was co-chairedby Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue; Presidentof the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Duarte Pacheco; Standing Vice Chairmanof the NA Tran Thanh Man; IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong; President ofthe IPU Forum of Young Parliamentarians Dan Carden, member of the UKParliament; Chairman of the Young NA Deputies’ Group of Vietnam Nguyen AnhTuan; Namibian Parliamentarian and member of theleadership of the IPU Forum of Young Parliamentarians Emma Tangi Muteka; and a representative ofthe IPU Secretariat.

It was attended by more than 300young parliamentarians and delegates from over 70 IPU member parliaments,representatives of international organisations, 124 members of the Young NADeputies’ Group of Vietnam, 20 outstanding young people of Vietnam, and 20 young deputiesof provincial-level People’s Councils, along with representatives of thefriendship associations between Vietnam and other countries, embassies,consulates, and foreign representative diplomatic agencies in Vietnam.

Inhis opening remarks, Hue said that it is Vietnam’s honour to bechosen as the host of the conference. Followingthe success of the 132nd IPU Assembly in 2015, the 26th AnnualMeeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) in 2018, and the 41stGeneral Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2020, thehosting of this conference continues to demonstrate Vietnam’s active, proactive,and responsible participation in the IPU – the world’s biggestinter-parliamentary body, and shows the country’s attention to youth and globalissues facing young people at present. 

He asked participants to focus their attention to several issues, including whatshould be done and how to promote the compliance with and upholding ofinternational law and the United Nations Charter, which is the key conditionfor maintaining and consolidating peace, cooperation, and sustainabledevelopment.

The second needing consideration is the role of developed countries,international organisations, the business community, and young people insolving global issues like sustainable and safe digital transformation, justenergy transition, climate change adaptation, and entrepreneurship andinnovation promotion.

The third issue is what should be done during law making and enforcement, andaction organisation to ensure people and businesses are truly the centre of alldevelopment decisions, and also the goal, the impetus, and the fundamentalresource of all.

The top legislator of Vietnam alsocalled on participants to look into ways for bringing into play the culturaland human values during sustainable development, promoting the respect forcultural diversity amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution, tightening cooperationin reforming the methodologies for operating economies, increasing labourproductivity, creating new impulses for economic growth, and helping boost thetransparency and efficiency of state agencies in order to narrow thedevelopment gap, safeguard national sovereignty, and protect privacy incyberspace.

In addition, he also suggested the IPU consider establishing a global networkof young parliamentarians for innovation to share countries’ experience.

In his message sent to the conference, Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong spoke highly of the conference’s theme as reflecting the shared concern about how to capitalise on the breakthrough achievementsgenerated by science, technology and innovation, enhance internationalcooperation and connectivity to further accelerate the realisation of the SustainableDevelopment Goals, and foster young people’s engagement in the settlement ofglobal issues so as to contribute to peace and prosperity of all countries in theworld.

The State leader expressed his belief that the Vietnamese NA will keepcooperating with other countries’ parliaments to translate recommendations andresolutions of the IPU and the Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians intoconcrete actions, thereby practically and effectively contributing to peace,stability, and sustainable development in the region and the world.

In his speech, IPU Secretary GeneralChungong applauded Vietnam’s substantial strides in multiple fields, including digitaltechnology with a strong commitment to combining technology with youthempowerment.

He emphasised that youngparliamentarians have a crucial role to play as they serve as a driving force forprogress and development, contribute viewpoints and reform solutions toparliamentary processes, and also share practices and promote their voice onissues of common concern.

The official said the conference also helps affirm young women’s contributions which are necessary for not only parliaments but also the broader globalmission of stepping up the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals viadigital transformation and innovations. As young parliamentarians, they shouldbecome pioneers in further promoting gender equality./.