Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân will lead a parliamentary delegation to the IPU-137 held in Saint Petersburg, Russia on October 14-15. – VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

HÀ NỘI – Viet Nam’s presence at the 137th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-137) and related meetings continues its active participation in multilateral legislature activities and will help promote the legislature’s role in the international forum, deputies say.

Invited by IPU President Saber Chowdhury, Chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia, Valentina Ivanovna Matviyenko and Chairman of the State Duma of Russia Vyacheslav Volodin, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân will lead a parliamentary delegation to the IPU-137 held in Saint Petersburg, Russia on October 14-15.

Việt Nam’s participation in IPU activities is an important task, allowing the legislature to promote and protect Việt Nam’s interests, learn international viewpoints, explain the nation’s views on global issues, and conduct bilateral meetings on the sidelines with its partners. 
The IPU meetings have also given Viet Nam the chance to learn from other parliaments’ experiences to improve the quality of its parliamentary functions, and promote its image and standing among international friends. 
Since Việt Nam joined the Inter-Parliamentary Union in April 1979, its active participation has been acknowledged and appreciated by other members. Over the years, relations between the Vietnamese National Assembly and other parliaments have strengthened. 
In October 2007 at the 117th IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, Việt Nam’s NA was elected to the IPU Executive Committee - the forum’s highest body - for the first time. 
Việt Nam was designated as IPU Vice President in 2009. In this role, the country contributed effectively to the forum,  optimising international support. 
Notably, in April 2015, Việt Nam hosted the 132nd IPU Assembly, where the Hanoi Declaration was adopted, contributing to devising the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. 
In October 2016, at the 135th IPU Assembly in Switzerland, Chairman of the NA Committee for External Affairs Nguyễn Văn Giàu was elected to the IPU Executive Committee for the 2016-2019 period. 
In May this year, HCM City hosted an Inter-Parliamentary Union symposium for the Asia-Pacific region, which discussed climate change challenges and the role of lawmakers in realising sustainable development goals. 
After the 137th IPU Assembly, Ngân will pay a three-day (October 16-18) visit to Kazakhstan. – VNS