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Remarks by PM Nguyen Xuan Phucat 41st AIPA General Assembly

VGP - The following are remarks by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the opening ceremony of the 41st AIPA General Assembly.

September 08, 2020 2:25 PM GMT+7

Your Excellency Madam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, President of the National Assembly, President of AIPA-41,

Honorable Speakers of AIPA member parliaments and observers,

Distinguished Guest of the Host,

Ladies and gentlemen,

As the 2020 ASEAN Chair, allow me to convey to the 41st AIPA General Assembly my warmest congratulations.

I would like to express my gratitude to Madam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, the President of AIPA-41, for her important contribution, and to the leaders of AIPA member parliaments, for your active participation at the ASEAN-AIPA Interface at the 36th ASEAN Summit in June.

1. I wish to echo the remark of the Party General Secretary, State President Nguyen Phu Trong that this year is of great significance for it marks the 5th anniversary of the ASEAN Community and the Mid-term Review of the ASEAN Community Blueprints 2025. As the COVID-19 pandemic ranges on, ASEAN is living up to the spirit of “Cohesive and Responsive” in the face of rapid, complicated and unpredictable regional and global developments.

The Special ASEAN and ASEAN 3 Summits on COVID-19 in April, and other meetings at all levels with all partners, have showcased our timely coordination, solidarity and unity. They are the source of our strength, enabling us to actively respond to the pandemic, overcome challenges, and maintain the momentum of cooperation and integration. Viet Nam has placed COVID-19 under control and is boosting our production. In the first half of 2020, our economy has recorded positive growth of nearly 2%. I applaud, and am truly thankful to, the Governments, Parliaments and people of ASEAN members for your effective joint efforts to realize our common goal.

Ladies and gentlemen,

2. AIPA is a vital organization of legislative bodies in the region. Over the past decades, parliamentary cooperation under AIPA has constantly played a vital role alongside the ASEAN Governments in maintaining an environment of peace, security, stability, cooperation and development, and strengthening the bond among peoples of the countries in the region.

In Viet Nam, there is close cooperation and interoperability between the National Assembly and the Government in performing their legislative and executive roles. This helps ensure rapid and sustainable growth and realize the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. During the 2020 AIPA Presidency, we have had an active year under the leadership of H.E. Madam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, President of the National Assembly, and H.E. Madam Tong Thi Phong, First Vice-President of the National Assembly, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to AIPA. Many events have been held to promote AIPA’s role and broaden its links with the IPU.

I commend the theme of AIPA-41: “Parliamentary Diplomacy for a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community”. It is an expression of the strong commitment and support of AIPA and member Parliaments towards the efforts of the governments and people of ASEAN for a united and resilient ASEAN that respond effectively to the opportunities and challenges ahead.

3. With this in mind, let me draw your attention to key areas of cooperation between AIPA and the ASEAN member governments.

First, the executive and legislative channels of ASEAN should continue to work closely to advance the implementation of the Blueprints across the Political and Security, Economic, and Cultural-Social pillars, and the realization of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. Attention should be given to promoting economic integration and connectivity, narrowing the development gap, mainstreaming and harmonizing the policies and decisions of ASEAN with national development programs.

Second, the parliamentarians and member parliaments of AIPA, through your recommendations and cooperation with ASEAN member governments, should reflect the people’s will in the decisions concerning the future directions for ASEAN development and a people-centered ASEAN Community Vision beyond 2025.

Third, AIPA member parliaments should join hands with ASEAN governments to build a rules-based Community that upholds the rule of law, equality and mutual respect, and settles disputes and differences through peaceful means on the basis of respect for international law. Broader relations with partners are much welcome, through which ASEAN should always maintain its centrality in the region.

Finally, let me voice my appreciation of the dialogue and valuable voice of the Parliamentarians of AIPA member parliaments. Alongside the Governments, you have promoted connectivity among our people and enriched the ASEAN values and cultural identity, for a cohesive, caring and sharing ASEAN Community.

The ASEAN-AIPA Interface at the 36th ASEAN Summit was productive and should be advanced. This Interface has supported ASEAN governments in implementing policies for social wellbeing and welfare, and communicating to the public of their actions taken in the people’s interest.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In more than half a century, history has borne witness to the immense achievements of ASEAN and the multiple occasions that the golden rice sheaf was beset by tempests. Yet after every challenge, ASEAN only emerged stronger, more mature, resilient, and steadfast than ever before.

There is a Vietnamese adage: “As fire tests gold, so does adversity test one’s mettle”. Despite difficulties, Viet Nam is committed to fulfilling our role as the ASEAN Chair 2020. We are confident that given the common effort of the member governments and parliaments, ASEAN shall continue to steadily move forward on the path to build a community of solidarity resilience, cohesion and responsiveness, for peace, development, and prosperity.

In this spirit, I wish the 41st AIPA General Assembly every success.

I wish you health, happiness and success.

Thank you very much./.