GENEVA – Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân said that the Vietnamese legislature regards joining Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) activities as an important task in multilateral parliamentary diplomacy to protect Việt Nam’s interests.

The participation also aims to show Việt Nam’s viewpoints on global issues, thus contributing to improving the position of the legislative body and Việt Nam in the international arena, the NA Chairwoman told IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron during their meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on Saturday.

The meeting took place after NA Chairwoman Ngân and her entourage arrived in Geneva the same day to attend the 138th IPU Assembly (IPU-138) which opened on Sunday.

Chairwoman Ngân described the IPU as a venue for Việt Nam’s NA to learn from the experience of parliaments worldwide and called for more support of IPU President Barron during the process.

She expressed her belief that President Barron and the IPU will continue to co-ordinate and assist IPU member parliaments, including the Vietnamese NA, in implementing commitments to sustainable development goals (SDGs). She also praised the contributions of the IPU leader to the union’s operational reform.

For her part, President Barron applauded Việt Nam’s participation in IPU activities, noting her hope that the country will continue to raise its voice and participate in multilateral forums such as the IPU and the APPF.

The union has drafted the IPU Strategy for 2017-2021 with many action programmes and inclusive policies, she said, urging the Vietnamese legislature to continue its support for the organisation.

Barron, who is also a Mexican Senator, highlighted the fruitful relationship between Việt Nam and Mexico which are both members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

She pledged to promote co-operation between the IPU and member parliaments, including the Vietnamese NA.

Meeting with Indonesian Lower House Speaker

Chairwoman Ngân met with Speaker of Indonesia’s House of Representatives Bambang Soesatyo on the sidelines of the IPU-138 on Saturday.

She said the Việt Nam-Indonesia strategic partnership has served the interests of their people, while contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and connecting members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

In reply, Bambang Soesatyo suggested the Vietnamese and Indonesian legislative bodies intensify the exchange of delegations and supervise the implementation of signed agreements.

He noted his hope for enhanced legislative ties, contributing to boosting the Indonesia-Việt Nam relationship.

In economics, the Speaker said Indonesia wants Vietnamese investment in oil and gas exploration and exploitation, expressing his wish that Việt Nam will be a big trade partner of Indonesia.

His view was echoed by Chairwoman Ngân, who said that Việt Nam and Indonesia have substantial potential for co-operation in trade and investment, urging the two countries to raise bilateral trade to US$10 billion.

Regarding legislative ties, Chairwoman Ngân suggested the two sides step up delegation exchange, with co-operation between specialised committees through information and experience sharing, as well as co-ordination at international parliamentary forums, especially the IPU and APPF.

She invited Speaker Bambang Soesatyo to visit Việt Nam.

The same day, Chairwoman Ngân met with the Vietnamese mission in Geneva, the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Switzerland. — VNS