Speaking to the press, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang noted that IPU-152 took place amid an international landscape that remains “complex and unpredictable,” yet achieved important substantive results.

Themed “Nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations,” the Assembly reaffirmed the Inter-Parliamentary Union as a key platform for parliamentary dialogue, consensus-building and cooperation in strengthening peace, the rule of law and multilateralism.

According to the Deputy Minister, member parliaments discussed and adopted a range of important resolutions focusing on the role of parliaments in conflict prevention and resolution, promoting fair trade, combating protectionism, and enhancing financial transparency. The Assembly also addressed urgent global issues, including measures to reinforce ceasefires and advance peace-building efforts.

These outcomes, he stressed, further underscore the growing importance of parliamentary diplomacy.

Within this overall success, the Vietnamese delegation, led by Chairman Tran Thanh Man, participated in a proactive, constructive and highly substantive manner. In his address to the general debate, the Chairman provided a comprehensive assessment of an international environment marked by unprecedented and complex developments, while affirming that the global community still has grounds for confidence in the future through strengthened cooperation, solidarity and concrete action based on respect for international law.

Notably, the Chairman proposed three key orientations to enhance inter-parliamentary cooperation, including strengthening dialogue and trust-building, improving legal frameworks and oversight of international commitments, and ensuring fair and equitable enforcement of laws.

Deputy Minister Giang noted, these proposals received positive attention and broad support from many member parliaments, contributing to Vietnam’s growing profile as an active and responsible partner in promoting parliamentary cooperation and multilateralism.

Beyond its engagement at plenary sessions, the Vietnamese delegation also made substantive contributions across key IPU mechanisms.

Vietnam also assumed the rotating Chairmanship of the ASEAN+3 Group within IPU for IPU-153. In this capacity, Vietnam introduced an initiative on enhancing economic resilience and strategic autonomy, emphasising the role of parliaments in improving legal frameworks, supporting businesses, and placing people at the centre of development. The initiative was regarded as a practical and timely contribution in the context of ongoing global economic uncertainties.

On the sidelines of the Assembly, Chairman Tran Thanh Man held numerous bilateral meetings with parliamentary leaders from various countries, helping to strengthen political trust and promote cooperation across multiple sectors. International partners highly valued Vietnam’s role and contributions within multilateral mechanisms and expressed their desire to further deepen cooperation with Vietnam both bilaterally and through parliamentary channels.

Alongside multilateral engagement, the official visits to Italy and Türkiye delivered substantive results, providing new momentum for bilateral relations. According to Deputy Minister Giang, a key highlight was the growing political trust, as leaders of both countries demonstrated strong appreciation for Vietnam. Italy reaffirmed its view of Vietnam as a trusted partner and its commitment to supporting stronger Vietnam–EU relations, while Türkiye expressed its desire to elevate ties and regard Vietnam as an important partner in the Asia-Pacific region.

Legislative cooperation also saw renewed momentum, with parliamentary leaders agreeing to maintain regular exchanges, enhance legislative experience-sharing, and strengthen oversight of the implementation of bilateral agreements across sectors.

In economic, trade and investment cooperation, a central pillar of the visit, both sides reached notable consensus. With Italy, the two sides agreed to effectively leverage the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), promote the ratification of the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and address trade barriers. With Türkiye, they agreed to expand bilateral trade toward greater balance and explore the possibility of negotiating a free trade agreement to better tap complementary economic potential.

Business connectivity activities, involving hundreds of enterprises and the signing of multiple memoranda of understanding, also opened up concrete opportunities for future cooperation.

The visit further generated new momentum in potential areas of cooperation such as defence and security, education and training, culture and people-to-people exchanges, as well as emerging fields including innovation, artificial intelligence, green transition and energy transition. Italy identified science, technology and innovation as priority pillars of cooperation, while Türkiye emphasised industry, infrastructure, logistics and tourism.

A notable highlight of the visit was Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s meeting with the Pope and Vatican Secretary of State. The meeting reflects positive developments in Vietnam–Holy See relations, from high-level contacts to the establishment of a Resident Papal Representative Office in Vietnam. Both sides expressed a shared aspiration toward establishing full diplomatic relations in the future, including the possibility of a papal visit to Vietnam.

Overall, the Deputy Minister said, the working trip contributed meaningfully to the implementation of the foreign policy set out at the 14th National Party Congress, deepened relations with key partners, and enhanced Vietnam’s standing in multilateral forums.

As the senior diplomat emphasised, relevant ministries and agencies will continue close coordination with partners to effectively implement the outcomes achieved, while promoting cooperation in strategic areas such as green transition, digital transformation, science and technology, and innovation.

The results of the working trip have not only strengthened Vietnam’s relations with its partners, but also made practical contributions to peace, stability and sustainable development in the region and beyond.

IPU lauds Vietnam’s active, responsible role in parliamentary cooperation

VOV.VN - Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Secretary General Martin Chungong praised the increasingly active and responsible role of the National Assembly of Vietnam in multilateral parliamentary mechanisms, while meeting with National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man in Istanbul, Türkiye, on April 17.