Hanoi (VNA) – Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Tran Thanh Man has stated that more than ever, as the highest representative organ of the people, parliaments need to promote cooperation and uphold their power to cope with challenges more effectively.

He made the statement at the 11th Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP-11) hosted by the National Assembly of Cambodia via videoconference on November 16. The event took the theme “Strengthening Parliamentary Partnership for Peace and Sustainable Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond”.

In his speech, Man said as a member of regional and global organisations, Vietnam always treasures multilateral, regional and inter-regional parliamentary cooperation, including the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the ASEP.

In order to promote ASEP’s involvement in strengthening parliamentary partnership for peace and sustainable development during and after the pandemic in both regions and the world, Man suggested Asian and European parliaments continue maintaining strong political commitments to stepping up multilateral and inter-parliamentary cooperation and building trust, thus making practical contributions to regional and global agendas.

In his opinion, they should support access to vaccines and key medical supplies at reasonable costs in a fair, equitable and timely manner. At the same time, they also should promote the role of cooperation and dialogue mechanisms, sharing of information and experience in parliamentary activities, perfect frameworks to control the pandemic, as well as push forward the early economic recovery and ensure social welfare.

He proposed continuing to strongly reform activities of inter-parliamentary cooperation mechanisms in both contents and methods amid the fourth industrial revolution, accelerating digital transformation and economy, green and circular economy, and innovation.

The Vietnamese official also called for boosting collaboration to ensure an environment of peace and stability based on rules, respect of law in waters and oceans, including maintaining the East Sea as a sea of peace and cooperation, thus ensuring security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom.

Held biannually and alternately between the two continents, the ASEP-11 features two plenary and three thematic sessions, focusing on the world and Asia-Europe situation over the past years, especially cooperation mechanisms in response to COVID-19.

In his opening speech, President of the Cambodian NA Heng Samrin underscored the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in ensuring long-term peace, common prosperity, social fairness, good governance, human rights and value of democracy.

Member parliaments also expressed their strong support for economic recovery in both regions, promotion of free and multilateral trade system, as well as maintenance of stability in the global supply chain, regional and inter-regional economic connectivity and integration./.