Addressing the plenary session of the third World Conference of Speakers of Parliament of the IPU in Geneva on July 21, the head of the Vietnam NA delegation expressed the hope that the IPU would continue with diversified activities to further cement the regional inter-parliamentary mechanisms and the IPU.

Ms Phong emphasised the Vietnam NA’s support to the theme of the significant conference, “Parliaments in a world of crisis: securing global democratic accountability for the common good”. She expressed her belief that the conference is a chance for the IPU to confirm its sound intention to meet the worldwide voters’ desire.

On Vietnam’s commitment to implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), she said that in pursuing the renewal policy, Vietnam has gained important socio-economic and cultural achievements and improved people’s living conditions over the past 25 years, with political stability and open external relations towards the goal of a wealthy people, a strong country and a civilised, democratic and equal society.

By 2010 Vietnam has fulfilled the majority of its MDGs with the implementation of hunger eradication and poverty reduction programmes, primary education universalisation, enhancing gender equality, reducing the newborn fatality rate and increasing health care for mothers and children and pushing back malaria and other dangerous epidemics. However, she noted, Vietnam needs to exert its utmost to achieve the targets in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and to protect the environment during its development process.

Also on this occasion, Vice NA Chairwoman Phong had meetings with the Chairman of the China National People’s Congress Wu Bangguo, Vice President of the Lao National Assembly Xaysomphone Phomivane, President of the Cambodian National Assembly Heng Samrin, President of the Thai Senate Prasobsook Boondech, Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives Takahiro Yokomichi and heads of other parliaments’ delegations.

The Vietnamese delegation also attended the Preparatory Committee’s sessions.