Sense of responsibilities in international relations

The following is his full speech:

Excellency Mr. Saber Chowdhury, President of the IPU,

Excellency Mr. Nguyen Sinh Hung, President of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam,

Excellency Martin Chung-ong, Secretary General of the IPU

Excellencies Leaders and Members of Parliaments,

Ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to all distinguished guests and delegates from 166 member parliaments all over the world attending the 132^nd IPU Assembly in Hanoi, a city of peace and hospitality.

The 132^nd IPU Assembly is a crucial event of Viet Nam’s external affairs. This is also a testimony of Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence and self-reliance to strive for peace, friendship, cooperation and development, to multi-lateralize and diversify external relations, and to actively integrate into the world. Along that line, Viet Nam will work as a friend, reliable partner and responsible member of the international community.

Until this moment, we can be sure of and are delighted at the success of the 132^nd IPU Assembly, on which all distinguished delegates should be congratulated. I am sure the outcomes of the Assembly will be known to billions of people across the globe. The Assembly will adopt the IPU Declaration in Hanoi and other important resolutions, reaffirming the role of the IPU not only as the world's largest multilateral forum for parliamentary cooperation but also as a partner of the United Nations in formulating the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda. The Vietnamese Government would like to congratulate all distinguished delegates on the great success of the IPU 132.  

I do hope that during your stay in Viet Nam, you have had a chance to explore and have a better understanding of Viet Nam, a country that went through pains and losses, and bravely fought against aggressors for national independence and reunification, a nation that worked hard to come out of poverty and ravaging devastation of war to become a middle-income developing country.

From the centrally planned and subsidized mechanism, Viet Nam has succeeded in transforming itself into the market economy. For the last 30 years, the economy has been doing very well with growth rate of 7% per annum. With much attention, great strides were made in social progress, equality, cultural development, environmental protection and social welfare. The life of 90 million people was substantially improved. Political and social stability was firmly maintained building on the overall support and consensus of the people. Viet Nam has been praised by the UN for achieving many Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ahead of schedule.

In implementing the 2013 Constitution, Viet Nam is working hard to improve the Socialist rule-of-law State. In this regard, the state will strive to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the management system, map out the orientations and create an environment most conducive to the country’s rapid and sustainable development. We will strive for the effective enforcement of the law, the human and citizen rights and for the promotion of freedoms and democracy of the people in all areas, particularly those pertaining to ownership, business freedoms, freedom to select their own representatives, and participation in laws and policy making and monitoring.

 Domestic reforms are being carried out to further improve and put in place rules needed for a socialist-oriented market economy - a robust and modern market economy that has increasingly and effectively integrated into the world economy. At the same time, the State has taken measures to better tap resources with an appropriate policy and legal framework to guarantee social progress and equality, social welfare and security, promote cultural development, improve the people’s life and narrow the development gap. We will continue these efforts in order to  attain the UN’s post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Strong science and technology advances and unfolding globalization and international integration have generated strong impacts on the social and economic development of all nations. Therefore, it is a common trend for nations to embrace the market economy while ensuring social security, social progress and equity, cultural development, environmental protection, democracy and the rule of law. It is also the common responsibilities of nations and humanity as a whole to cooperate and strive for national independence and sovereignty and legitimate interest as well as for peace, friendship, cooperation and development. And last but not least, we should join hands to address global challenges.

The world is now faced with potential risks of armed conflicts, territorial disputes, disputes over maritime zones, including the East Sea, the rise of  terrorism, cyber security and other challenges relating to climate change, epidemics, food and water source security.

These challenges require all nations, all parliaments to make greater efforts with high sense of responsibilities. To maintain long-lasting peace, friendship, stability, security and safety, each state, big or small, while pursuing her own interests, needs to respect independence, sovereignty, and legitimate interests of others and at the same time to pay attention to addressing common issues and defending common interests of the region and the world.   

This is the platform of common understanding for us to promote cooperation arrangements, build confidence, settle disputes and disagreements through peaceful means in accordance with the UN Charter, international law and commitments without the use or threat of force. Accordingly, we do hope that states, especially parliaments and parliamentarians, will work together to effectively implement the Hanoi Declaration as highlighted by the IPU Theme “Turning Words into Actions” for the benefit of peace, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development as well as for the benefit of each individual people. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In this friendly and cordial atmosphere, once again, on behalf of the Government and the people of Viet Nam, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Parliaments, Governments and the people of countries across the world for your precious support accorded to Viet Nam during the past struggle for national independence and reunification as well as the current cause of national building and defense. We look forward to your continued support and cooperation on the basis of equality, efficiency and mutual benefit.

Tonight, at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, a sacred historical site of Vietnam, may I now invite you to join me in a toast:

-To the friendship and cooperation among countries, and close cooperation among IPU member Parliaments!

-To the success of the Inter-Parliamentary Union!

-To a world of peace, security, prosperity and sustainable development!

- To the health, happiness and success of you all.

Thank you./.