Hanoi (VNA) –National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan hosted a reception in Hanoi onMarch 7 for a delegation from the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank andthe International Monetary Fund (the Parliamentary Network) led by its VicePresident Soukri Cherif.

Showing her delight atthe effective cooperation between Vietnam and the WB, the top legislator saidthat Vietnam needs the support of the international community, including thebank, to fulfill its goals amidst many difficulties and challenges.

She affirmed that theNA of Vietnam will closely supervise the management and use of WB assistance,ensuring it is used effectively to bring added value to the local socio-economicdevelopment.

She also spoke highlyof the cooperation and support that the WB has given to NA agencies, which shesaid helped improve the legislature’s supervision over finance, budget andeconomy.

She lauded the signingof a memorandum of understanding between the WB and the NA Finance and BudgetCommittee in 2017, aiming to enhance the committee’s capacity in monitoringfinancial and budgetary issues.

Over the past years,the WB has also given consultations to Vietnam on important strategic issues,she added.

Ngan proposed the WBcontinue aiding Vietnam in building and completing legal framework to stabilisethe macro economy, promote growth, develop human resources and ensure socialharmony and sustainable use of natural resources.

She asked for theWB’s assistance for major infrastructure, human resources development andclimate change response projects.

She also called forsupport from the Parliamentary Network’s members to activities of the WB andIMF in Vietnam.

Hailing the Parliamentary Network as a bridge toenhance cooperation channels among parliaments, Ngan stressed that theVietnamese NA is ready to join and make active contributions to the network.

The host discussed with the network’s parliamentariansabout gender equality, job creation for women and young people, changes to taxpolicy once the WB cuts investment assistance, population aging, public debtlimit, the legislature’s role in budget allocation, climate change response,the NA’s supervisory role and relations between the law-making body and the government.

According to her, the rate of Vietnamesefemale lawmakers reaches 26.7 percent, still below the targeted 30 percent.

Vice President of the Parliamentary NetworkSoukri Cherif and WB Country Director in Vietnam Ousmane Dione thanked NAChairwoman Ngan for practical discussions.

Dione said the working trip is part ofcooperation programmes between WB, IMF and member nations, adding that the discussedmatters will be reflected in the next agenda.

The delegation comprises parliamentariansfrom Australia, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Egypt, France, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos,Latvia, Morocco, Myanmar, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Tunisia,Turkey, Uganda and Ukraine.

The delegation will visit on-going projectsin Vietnam and discuss with leaders of State agencies and representatives fromthe private sector during the four-day trip.

Founded in 2000 withthe engagement of parliamentarians from over 140 countries, the ParliamentaryNetwork seeks to engage lawmakers from around the globe in the common missionof addressing good governance and poverty challenges in both their homecountries and abroad.-VNA