National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn addresses the general debate of the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photos Doãn Tấn

ISTANBUL — National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn called on the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and its members to further promote international solidarity and cooperation, uphold the rule of law and support national initiatives for peace and development as he delivered a speech at the 152nd IPU Assembly in Istanbul on Thursday.

Speaking at the assembly’s general debate, the top Vietnamese legislator said the theme of IPU-152 – Nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations – carries both strong relevance and urgency at a time when the world is witnessing growing instability and conflict driven by geopolitical competition, disregard for international law, the use of force and the destruction of essential infrastructure, causing immense suffering and loss for millions.

Wars, conflicts, trade protectionism and increasing trends of polarisation and fragmentation, alongside non-traditional security challenges, are exerting multifaceted impacts on humanity, he said. Breakthrough technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), while offering new development opportunities, also pose fresh challenges for governance and regulation.

Despite these realities, NA chairman Mẫn expressed confidence that there remain grounds for hope. At the global level, commitments to multilateralism and international cooperation remain intact. Shared frameworks such as the Pact for the Future and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development continue to underpin collective global action.

Through the Declaration of the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, IPU member parliaments have reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation for peace, justice and prosperity for all.

At the regional and inter-regional levels, particularly in the Asia-Pacific, multilateral cooperation initiatives are being actively advanced. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) continue to make important contributions to peace, cooperation and development in the region.

National Assembly chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn delivers his speech at the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on Thursday.

Highlighting Việt Nam’s achievements over 40 years of Đổi Mới (Renewal), NA chairman Mẫn said the country is determined to enter a new phase of development, aiming to become a developing country with modern industry and upper-middle income by 2030 and a developed, high-income nation by 2045.

Việt Nam is also pursuing a new growth model driven by science and technology, innovation and digital transformation while ensuring social equity and environmental sustainability so that people can better benefit from development achievements, he said.

With a foreign policy of independence, autonomy, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, he affirmed that Việt Nam will continue to work actively and responsibly with partners to address regional and global challenges.

To overcome challenges and seize opportunities, NA Chairman Mẫn called on the IPU and its member parliaments to further promote international solidarity and cooperation, uphold the rule of law and support national initiatives for peace and development.

He proposed strengthening parliamentary diplomacy, enhancing dialogue, building trust and friendship among nations, addressing the root causes of conflict and respecting fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.

“With that spirit, together with IPU members, we earnestly call on all parties concerned to strictly observe ceasefires and continue peaceful negotiations to seek appropriate and sustainable solutions to current conflicts,” he said.

The Vietnamese top legislator also underscored the role of parliaments in establishing legal frameworks, upholding international commitments, particularly those related to peace, security, sustainable development, climate change response and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and exercising supreme oversight over their implementation.

NA Chairman Mẫn concluded that regardless of the scale of challenges facing humanity, solidarity, sharing and cooperation will enable nations to overcome difficulties and build a brighter future for generations to come. — VNS