This was stated by NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong who is also Head of the Vietnamese NA delegation to the AIPA-31 Organising Board meeting in Hanoi on July 29.

AIPA-31 will provide an opportunity for Vietnam to raise its profile within ASEAN. As the host country, Vietnam will need to provide leadership in implementing the ASEAN Charter and building an ASEAN community by 2015.

The successful organisation of this event will enhance Vietnam’s prestige in the international arena. At AIPA-31, Vietnam will preside over plenary session and dialogue sessions with assembly observers and take part in other meetings, Mrs Phong said.

She briefed other AIPA-31 board members on issues of major concern at the previous AIPA sessions and the outcomes of the 16^th ASEAN Meeting and the 43^rd Foreign Ministers Meeting. Other issues under discussion were related to protocol, past experience in organising ASEAN-related meetings and cultural characteristics and religions of ASEAN countries.