NA Vice Chairman active on sidelines of 146th IPU Assembly

Permanent Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man on March 13 took part in a series of meetings on the sidelines of the ongoing 146th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Bahrain’s capital of Manama.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man (3rd from L) and Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Martin Chungong (3rd from R) (Photo: VNA)

At a meeting with Secretary General of the IPU Martin Chungong, Man said the participation in IPU activities is an important task of the Vietnamese NA in order to join IPU member parliaments in discussing and coming up with solutions to current pressing global issues, thus making contributions to consolidating peace, security and stability in the region and the world.

Commending the Secretary General’s contributions to the development of relations between the IPU and the Vietnamese NA over the past time, he wished for further support and close coordination regarding the latter's hosting of the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Hanoi this September.

In response, Chungong praised the Vietnamese NA’s capacity in organising international events, including the 132nd IPU Assembly in 2015, and highlighted the strong growth of the relationship between the body and the IPU in recent years.

The IPU is willing to assist the Vietnamese NA’s organisation of similar events, he affirmed, underscoring that the signing of an agreement between the NA and IPU Secretariat on a method to run the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians demonstrates Vietnam's commitment to actively and responsibly engaging in IPU activities.

On the occasion, Man witnessed the signing ceremony of the pact.

At the signing ceremony of the agreement (Photo: VNA)

Hosting President of the Angolan National Assembly Carolina Cerqueira, Man said the Vietnamese supports strengthening cooperation with Angola in all fields, notably trade, investment, politics, diplomacy, health, and education.

He recommended the two sides speed up the negotiation process to soon sign a number of cooperation documents such as agreements on investment, double taxation avoidance, security, and civil aviation.

The two countries’ parliaments should strengthen their exchange of high-level delegations, supervision of the implementation of signed cooperation agreements, and sharing of experience in law-making, noted the official.

For her part, Cerqueira expressed her hope for improved bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, goods processing, education, health, industry, and marine transport. She also proposed the sides establish parliamentary friendship groups.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man (R) and President of the Angolan National Assembly Carolina Cerqueira (Photo: VNA)

At another meeting with Speaker of Zambia National Assembly Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti, Man suggested that the two countries further promote collaboration in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, health and education. He affirmed that Vietnam is willing to share development experience with Zambia, especially in agriculture.

The top Zambian legislator said that the two countries can boost cooperation in areas where the two sides have strengths such as agriculture and tourism, and expressed her wish to learn from Vietnam's economic development experience.

She said that she will propose the Zambian Ministry of Foreign Affairs consider the application of visa exemption for Vietnamese people holding diplomatic and official passports.

On the same day, Man also received Chairman Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh of Bahrain’s Shura Council (upper house).

Themed “Promoting peaceful coexistence and inclusive societies: fighting intolerance”, the 146th IPU Assembly runs until March 15./.

VNA