Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan attendedthe opening session for both meetings of the Francophone Parliamentary Assembly(APF)’s Women’s Parliamentary Network and the APF Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs Committee in Hanoi on February 26.

In her opening speech, NA Chairwoman Ngan warmly welcomed participants to theevents, which saw the participation of delegates from APF and its chapters, thosefrom the International Francophone Organisation (OIF), ambassadors from membercountries of OIF in Vietnam, chief representatives of international organisationsin Hanoi, and Vietnamese parliamentarians.

According to theVietnamese top legislator, the APF is a gathering place for French-speakingparliamentarians with the goal of pushing governments to move forward withaspirations for global peace and stability.

From the 23 member parliaments that attended the first meeting of the International Assembly of French Language Parliamentarians (AIPLF) inLuxembourg in 1967 to the 87 members in 2018, the development of theorganisation amongst the Francophone community, as well as in the internationalarena, has been clearly evidenced during the 50 years since its establishment,NA Chairwoman Ngan said.

Vietnam appreciates the APF’s role in international activities through initiatingand implementing inter-parliamentary cooperation programmes; strengtheningfriendship and solidarity between parliaments; and contributing to the growingdevelopment of parliamentary diplomatic activities to improve the position andvoice of parliamentarians in regional and international issues, she said.

The head of theVietnamese parliament said Vietnam has consistently implemented a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance,peace, cooperation, and development; the diversification and multilateralisationof international relations; active international integration; and being afriend, trusted partner, and responsible member of the international community.

The OIF and its member countries have always held an important position in Vietnam’sforeign policy, she stressed, adding that Vietnam has always shared and supportedthe values and goals of the Francophone community in terms of peace, democracy,cultural and language diversity, solidarity, cooperation, and development.

These are also the goals that the State and people of Vietnam are makingefforts to implement in the country’s comprehensive renovation process atpresent, having gained important achievements in many fields, she noted.

She stated that the Vietnamese NA, as the highest representative body of thepeople, is actively reforming its operation in the spirit of democracy and ruleof law.

Regarding parliamentary diplomacy, the NA of Vietnam has always been an activeand responsible member of regional and global inter-parliamentary organisations,such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU),the APF, the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), the ASEAN InterParliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and other inter-parliamentary organisations,Ngan said.

She underlined the need to enhance solidarity and closer cooperation amongFrench-speaking countries and the international community. She also stressed therole played by the French-speaking community in promoting mutual understanding, respectingdiversity, promoting cooperation to maintain peace and stability, and solving bothglobal and Francophone nation problems.

She proposed that the Women’s Parliamentary Network discuss measures on how to strengthen the role ofwomen in politics, especially in raising the proportion of female delegates inparliaments; promoting the role of women in start-up activities and business development;and ensuring the rights of women and girls to have full access to education,healthcare, and all aspects of culture.

The APF Education, Communication, and Cultural Affairs Committee needs to work with mechanismsof the OIF to outline effectivemeasures to strengthen the position of the French language in national organisations,as well as increase the number of French learners in countries throughscholarships for training programmes, she said.

The Vietnamese top legislator hoped that the APF and other inter-parliamentaryorganisations will be vehicles for parliamentarians to continue to expresstheir views, thus reflecting the aspirations of the people towards building andprotecting a world of solidarity, peace, and multilateral cooperation, as wellas settling disputes on the basis of respect for international law and towardssustainable development.

Lydienne Époubé, President of the Women’s Parliamentary Network andPresident of the APF Education, Communication, and CulturalAffairs Committee Didier Berberat expressed their beliefthat with the strong commitment and active participation of its delegates, the eventwill be a great success.

Thetwo meetings will last until February 28. –VNA