Hanoi (VNA) - The 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-ParliamentaryAssembly (AIPA 41) themed “Parliamentary Diplomacy for a Cohesive andResponsive ASEAN Community” opened in Hanoi on September 8 under the chair ofNational Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chair of the AIPA 41.

The online event saw the participation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and leaders of Vietnamese Party and State, ambassadors, representatives from embassies of participating countries to the AIPA 41, as well as representatives from observer countries and guests of host Vietnam.

Addressing the opening ceremony, NA Chairwoman Ngan said this is the first timein 43-year history the AIPA General Assembly has been held virtually amid thecomplicated developments of COVID-19, showing determination and efforts ofASEAN member parliaments and governments in overcoming difficulties, fightingthe pandemic and moving forward for people’s well-being and cooperation anddevelopment of the ASEAN Community.


This is the third time Vietnam has undertaken on the role of AIPA chair andhosted the General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly. Thisevent affirmed Vietnamese National Assembly’s role and responsibility as wellas AIPA’s international mission in multilateral cooperation mechanisms.

She informed delegates that the Vietnamese National Assembly has closely cooperatedwith ASEAN member parliaments to organise numerous activities, promoting roles ofthe AIPA and its members in building ASEAN Community.


In his video message at the opening ceremony, Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong applauded the organisation of AIPA 41 in the form of a teleconference.

A strong ASEAN that plays the central role and serves as a driving force of regional and international cooperation will be both the mainstay and the goal of Vietnam, he noted.

It’s now more important than ever that AIPA keeps contributing to efforts to promote ASEAN’s central role in an evolving regional architecture while promoting multilateralism, international connectivity and cooperation, and respect for law.

He expressed his belief that this time’s general assembly will work towards community-based mindset and actions so as to achieve a strong and cohesive ASEAN Community that is oriented towards and centres on the people with its role established in the international arena.


Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke highly of the AIPA’srole as a significant organisation of legislative bodies in ASEAN. During thepast decades, AIPA parliamentary cooperation has always played an importantrole in coordinating with ASEAN member governments in maintaining andconsolidating regional peace, security, stability, cooperation and development;as well as enhancing people-to-people connectivity.

He stressed the effectiveness of the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with AIPA representativesduring the virtual 36th ASEAN Summit and the need to uphold the dialoguemechanism, adding that the dialogue has helped the governments implement policiesto improve its people’s livelihoods and well-being.

A meeting of Women Parliamentarians of AIPA (WAIPA), AIPA Young Parliamentarians and meetings of the Political, Economic, Social Affairs and Organisation Committees will be held within the event’s framework.

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) is a regional parliamentaryorganisation. It was originally formed on September 2, 1977 as the ASEANInter-Parliamentary Organisation (AIPO) by the leaders of the parliamentarydelegations of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailandattending the Third ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Conference in Manila, thePhilippines. In 1995, Vietnam became a member, followed by Laos in 1997,Cambodia in 1999, and Brunei in 2009. At the 27th AIPO General Assembly held inCebu city, the Philippines in 2006, there was a consensus to transform theorganisation into a more effective and closely integrated institution and to changethe organisation's name from AIPO to AIPA./.