Secretary General of the National Assembly and Chairman of the National Assembly Office Bùi Văn Cường. Photos courtesy of the National Assembly of Việt Nam

Secretary General of the National Assembly (NA) and Chairman of the NA Office Bùi Văn Cường spoke with the press regarding the preparations for the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians (GCYP). He emphasised that Việt Nam aimed to leave a positive impression of the country on the international stage and convey a message about collective efforts in promoting digital transformation and innovation.

Could you explain why Việt Nam is hosting the 9th GCYP in Hà Nội? What is the significance of this conference for young parliamentarians in Việt Nam and the Vietnamese NA?

In 2013, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) established the Young Parliamentarians Forum, an official and standing mechanism within the IPU, aimed at increasing the quantity and quality of youth participation in parliaments and within the IPU.

In 2014, the IPU introduced the annual Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in a bid to enhance the role of young parliamentarians and youth participation in parliamentary activities, to provide youth perspectives on IPU activities and agendas, and to build networks and enhance the capacity of young people on common issues of interest.

The 9th GCYP hosted by the Vietnamese National Assembly is a significant international event, not only for the IPU but also for Việt Nam in 2023 due to the following reasons:

Firstly, the conference provides an opportunity for young parliamentarians from member parliaments around the world to discuss parliamentary actions aimed at leveraging the role of youth in accelerating the implementation of sustainable development goals through digital transformation, innovation, and the promotion of cultural diversity for sustainable development.

This event aligns with Việt Nam's foreign policy direction, as outlined in the 13th National Party Congress and the Politburo’s Resolution No34-NQ/TW on major guidelines and policies for the foreign affairs of the 13th National Party Congress, and Directive No 25-CT/TW of the 12th Party Central Committee Secretariat, aimed at elevating the level of multilateral diplomacy until 2030 and advancing Vietnamese youth development strategy for the 2021-2030 period.

It reaffirms Việt Nam's active and responsible participation and the role of Việt Nam in the multilateral parliamentary diplomacy of the IPU, one of the world's oldest multilateral organisations.

Hosting the conference demonstrates the care and attention of the Party and the State towards the younger generation and their role in the nation's development and contributions to building a peaceful and prosperous world and addressing global challenges.

In addition, the conference will contribute to advancing Việt Nam's interests through parliamentary channels and provide insights into promoting youth participation in political and socio-economic development, particularly in the context of the global trends of digital transformation, innovation, and sustainable development, which are top priorities in Việt Nam's current policies.

The conference will also enhance diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and many important partners, especially young leaders, and parliamentarians from various countries. It will help convey Việt Nam's foreign policy, promote Việt Nam's achievements in the đổi mới (Renewal), and showcase Việt Nam's cultural heritage and people to the international community.

Could you provide an update on the preparations for the 9th GCYP?

Given the significance and importance of the conference, the preparations have been carried out diligently and urgently. The conference’s organising committee, chaired by the NA Standing Vice Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn, has been established. It includes participation from various ministers and leaders of relevant ministries, departments, and localities. The organising committee has set up three subcommittees, including the content subcommittee, the reception - logistics - security - health subcommittee, the information and communication subcommittee, and the National Secretariat under the organising committee. All units have been actively executing their assigned tasks to ensure the progress of the conference preparation.

A view of the press conference on the preparation of the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Hà Nội.

The organising committee has received constant attention and precise guidelines from the NA Chairman Vương Đình Huệ. There have been regular meetings to review the progress of conference preparation. NA Chairman Huệ has worked with various related ministries and agencies to review, assess the progress, and ensure the quality of each task to ensure the best conditions for a successful conference.

Following the principles of "friendliness, attentiveness, efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness", the conference preparation has been substantially completed, guaranteeing both the content and the necessary logistics, reception, security, and healthcare. The conference is sure to leave a positive impression about the beautiful and peaceful Việt Nam in the hearts of international friends.

How could you explain the significance of the 9th GCYP theme? What is the most important message that Việt Nam aims to convey to young parliamentarians and international friends through this conference?

The theme of the 9th GCYP is "The Role of Young People in Promoting the Realisation of Sustainable Development Goals via Digital Transformation and Innovation". Specialised discussions based on this theme are about digital transformation, entrepreneurship, innovation, and the promotion of cultural diversity in sustainable development, which are timely and aligned with the contemporary global trends and the developmental direction of nations worldwide.

Member parliaments and governments alike recognise that digital transformation and innovation are inevitable trends, allowing for accelerated and equitable development for each nation and its citizens, ensuring that no one is left behind. These are also top priorities for Việt Nam as it strives toward achieving its ambitious goals set out in the 100-year aspirations outlined at the 13th National Party Congress. Therefore, the Vietnamese NA has made comprehensive and proactive preparations and successfully persuaded the IPU regarding the theme of this conference.

In reality, the progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been slow, with only 12 per cent of the SDGs being implemented correctly, while 50 per cent deviate to some extent, at an average or critical level. This calls for a stronger and more breakthrough effort from the international community to reach the SDGs by 2030. This includes embracing digital transformation, leveraging technology, innovating, and accelerating to find new approaches and solutions. In addition, the imperative to promote respect for cultural diversity and harness the role of culture in the context of technological advancements and globalisation, all tied to sustainable development are necessary.

Through this conference, Việt Nam hopes that the young parliamentarians of the IPU, who are the closest political representatives to the younger generation and understand new sciences and technologies, will join forces to drive the implementation of the SDGs through digital transformation and innovation.

The conference is expected to adopt a declaration on “The Role of Young People in Promoting the Realisation of Sustainable Development Goals via Digital Transformation and Innovation". How has Việt Nam played a role in shaping the content and initiatives within this draft declaration?

During the closing session, the conference will adopt the declaration “The Role of Young People in Promoting the Realisation of Sustainable Development Goals via Digital Transformation and Innovation". The declaration will summarise the key highlights and consolidate the recommendations gathered during the conference sessions.

The declaration represents a collective and resolute commitment from young parliamentarians of the IPU towards robust and globally significant sustainable development. This holds tremendous significance in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is facing numerous challenges and difficulties.

In recent times, Việt Nam has been actively engaged in constructing the conference documents. The subcommittees of the organising committee have closely collaborated with the IPU Secretariat to draft the declaration. The content subcommittee has worked closely with relevant ministries and departments to propose content for the declaration, emphasising strong, impactful messages that contribute to the fulfillment of international commitments related to advancing SDGs through digital transformation and innovation. The IPU Secretariat has placed significant trust in and highly regarded Việt Nam's preparation. As a result, Việt Nam has been recommended to present the reports on the discussions at the closing session of the conference. — VNS