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The delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly, led by its Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai, attends the 31st Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-31) in Manila, the Philippines. (Photo: VNA) |
Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Duc Hai presented four recommendations to enhance parliaments’ role in promoting peace and stability in the region, while addressing a plenary session of the 31st Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-31) in Manila on November 24.
Firstly, countries need to maintain strong political commitments to boost multilateral and inter-parliamentary cooperation, increase dialogues, exchange information and experience in parliamentary operations, improve understanding, and build trust on the basis of mutual respect, he said.
They should seriously observe international commitments and law and the United Nations Charter, not use force, power politics and unilateralism, and not cause division, the legislator continued.
Secondly, Hai said, it is necessary to foster legislative ties in the region by strengthening cooperation and linkage mechanisms and networks such as the APPF.
He highlighted fostering collaboration and exchange between legislatures to exchange information and experience, and create a network of cooperation and linkages between parliaments to reinforce common power and promote their influence.
Parliaments can work together in building common rules and standards, and seek solutions to promote peace and stability, and settle global issues, he suggested.
Hai mentioned raising expertise of parliaments and parliamentarians as the third recommendation, which, he said, will benefit regional peace and stability.
Parliaments should keep a close watch on global issues, especially those on security, economy, environment and human rights, while encouraging the full and comprehensive participation of people, including vulnerable groups, in making policies and ensuring social welfare, Hai went on.
Finally, he suggested the APPF member parliaments prioritise resources to sustainable, inclusive development goals, creating a foundation for peace and stability in the region and the world, elaborating that with the current approach, the Asia-Pacific can only fulfill these goals by 2065, or 35 years later than the original plan.
Hai used the occasion to affirm that Vietnam always top prioritises maintaining a peaceful and stable environment to spur national development, improving people’s living standards, and contributing responsibly to solving common challenges of the region and the world.
Vietnam supports initiatives conducive to regional and global peace and stability; the promotion of the settlement of conflicts and disputes by peaceful means, without the use of force or threat to use force; and the observance of international law and the UN Charter, he said.
He also stressed that the Vietnamese NA is committed to further accompanying the APPF and its member parliaments in promoting the law-making and supervisory role of parliaments.
Vietnam will coordinate with other members to maintain peace, stability, as well as economic connectivity and recovery globally, and uphold the region's pioneering role in economic development, Hai pledged.
