ASEAN parliaments hail Việt Nam’s AIPA Presidency

The most outstanding result of the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-41) was the building of solidarity within AIPA, and the host Việt Nam played an important role in this regard, said Chairwoman of the Lao National Assembly (NA) Pany Yathotou in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency following the conclusion of AIPA-41.

“The 41st General Assembly of AIPA demonstrated the Vietnamese NA’s high sense of responsibility, creativity, capacity, and experience in organisation,” the top Lao legislator said.

She said all participating parliaments highly valued Việt Nam’s organisation capacity given the complexity of COVID-19.

The country has made every effort to fulfil its AIPA Chairmanship role, she went on, adding that it employed good consultation mechanisms with other AIPA member parliaments, helping accelerate the ratification of resolutions.

She also said issues on the agenda were significant for the region and met the aspirations of ASEAN residents.

The spirit of the meeting will be upheld in reality, with attention paid to co-operation with governments in implementing resolutions adopted by ASEAN leaders, especially those regarding the fight against the pandemic, she said.

The Lao NA will also continue with its role in issuing laws that serve as a foundation for the realisation of the resolutions, she noted.

Puan Maharani, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, said she fully appreciated Việt Nam's effort in hosting the first-ever AIPA virtual General Assembly.

Puan Maharani, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia.

“We appreciate the efforts of the Vietnamese National Assembly for hosting the 41st AIPA General Assembly despite the challenges that we are all facing due to the pandemic and hope that this year’s General Assembly could become an effective platform for AIPA member parliaments to exchange best practices, build political will, strengthen capacity, and foster collaboration among parliaments and parliamentarians on curbing the pandemic as well as to find best solutions to other important regional issues.”

“The fact that overall the AIPA General Assembly went very well despite being conducted online, is an accomplishment on its own. In the past, many might think that this kind of level of international event would not be doable online. However today AIPA has proven that we can adapt with development and that AIPA is well prepared for the future,” she said.

Talking to Vietnam News Agency after the closing ceremony of AIPA-41, Pehin Abdul Rahman Taib, Speaker of the Legislative Council of Brunei Darussalam, said a notable achievement of the General Assembly this year was the resumption of the meeting of Committee on Political Matters.

Pehin Abdul Rahman Taib, Speaker of Legislative Council of Brunei Darussalam.

Việt Nam’s AIPA Presidency, under the leadership of Vietnamese NA Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân, must be commended, he said, adding that the Vietnamese NA “has successfully demonstrated its steadfast commitment and dedication as well as upheld its duties and responsibilities in convening the AIPA General Assembly during its AIPA presidency, in a time when our region and the world are still facing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic."

The Legislative Council of Brunei Darussalam appreciates the Vietnamese NA’s efforts in bringing AIPA member parliaments together to attend the General Assembly virtually, he said.