The working trip affirms Vietnam's role, commitment and responsibility towards AIPA and ASEAN cooperation.

On this occasion, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Anh Tuan answered the press about the outstanding results of the working trip as well as the direction for implementing the achieved results in the coming time.

Could you please tell us about the outstanding results of the National Assembly Chairman's working trip to attend AIPA-46 and his official visit to Malaysia?

Photo caption — National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man attends the first plenary session of the 46th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-46). Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

Following the excellent results achieved in the mutual visits of the two countries' senior leaders in the past time, from September 16-20, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his wife, along with the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation, paid an official visit to Malaysia and attended the 46th AIPA General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at the invitation of the Malaysian Parliamentary Leaders. With the spirit of "active participation, substantial contribution, outstanding mark", the working trip of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man was very successful, achieving the set goals, leaving a mark in all aspects, thereby strongly affirming the role, commitment, responsibility and proactiveness of Vietnam towards AIPA cooperation in particular and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in general.

Bilaterally, the visit demonstrates the two countries' high political determination in implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established during General Secretary To Lam's official visit to Malaysia in November 2024, including making parliamentary cooperation increasingly effective and substantive. Through the visit, the two sides have deepened political and comprehensive relations in multifaceted cooperation, especially in the context of Malaysia assuming the role of ASEAN Chair 2025. Vietnam wishes to work with Malaysia and ASEAN countries to build a "Sustainable and Inclusive" ASEAN Community, united and strong, and consolidate ASEAN's central role in the regional structure. Vietnam is moved and proud that in all talks and contacts, Malaysian leaders always expressed their respect for President Ho Chi Minh and their affection and admiration for the spirit of fighting for national independence and the will of self-reliance, self-reliance and advancement of the Vietnamese people.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man had important talks with the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malaysia, met with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, met with the Vietnamese community in Malaysia and achieved many substantive results, in line with the aspirations of the two countries, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region. The leaders of the two countries reached directional agreements, especially on economics, trade and investment, striving to soon bring bilateral trade turnover to exceed the 18 billion USD mark; create favorable conditions for economic cooperation and remove some legal obstacles to facilitate the promotion of investment of Malaysian enterprises in Vietnam, promote cooperation in the fields of renewable energy, clean energy, oil and gas, science - technology, digital transformation, innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), Halal industry, as well as actively participate in ASEAN Power Grid projects; continue to promote understanding and solidarity between the two peoples through cultural, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, especially among the young generation.

Cooperation between the two National Assemblies is an important topic that both sides focused on discussing during the working trip. The two sides agreed to increase the exchange of high-level delegations, committee-level delegations, and exchanges between female parliamentarians and young parliamentarians; share information and experience in building and perfecting a suitable legal framework, creating favorable conditions for implementing new contents/areas of cooperation within the framework of the newly established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; promote cooperation in monitoring the effective implementation of international treaties and cooperation agreements signed between the two governments. The two sides will continue to closely coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums such as AIPA, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), etc., contributing to maintaining a peaceful, stable and developing environment in the region and the world.

On the multilateral level, the National Assembly Chairman's participation in AIPA-46 takes place at a very meaningful time when Vietnam celebrates 30 years of joining ASEAN and AIPA (1995-2025), especially when ASEAN is preparing to enter a new phase in the process of building the ASEAN Community with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. In the context of many rapid and complex changes in the world and the region, AIPA and its member parliaments emphasize their determination to continue to strengthen solidarity, friendship, trust and cooperation, increase economic links and connections between member countries and with partners and the region, for peace, stability and development.

Together with the heads of delegations of AIPA member parliaments, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and the Vietnamese National Assembly deputies actively participated in discussions at the meetings under the common theme of "Parliaments at the forefront for an ASEAN of inclusive and sustainable growth", affirming that the National Assembly of member countries will accompany and actively participate with the Governments of the countries, realizing high-level commitments and resolutions of AIPA into concrete actions and achieving practical results, ensuring the connection between ASEAN's common cooperation strategies and plans with national development programs and goals, promoting economic cooperation, trade, science and technology, innovation, response to climate change, natural disasters, etc. National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and the Vietnamese delegation also made many constructive contributions in discussions and dialogues with representatives of observer parliaments and discussing resolutions at committees, groups of female parliamentarians and young parliamentarians.

The 46th AIPA General Assembly adopted resolutions proposed and co-sponsored by Vietnam to promote cooperation in priority areas such as digital economy, digital transformation, cyber security, enhancing intra-bloc trade, improving the effectiveness of cooperation with partners, and promoting the role of parliamentary diplomacy in maintaining peace and stability in the region. In particular, the group of resolutions adopted, including resolutions on enhancing the role of youth in digital transformation, on developing digital human resources, on effectively exploiting the digital economy, on combating cybercrime, etc., will help strengthen the "digital ecosystem", in line with ASEAN's common development requirements and linked to Vietnam's current priorities.

Within the framework of AIPA-46, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man also had meetings with heads of parliamentary delegations from Laos, Cambodia and Timor Leste, thereby agreeing on new cooperation directions in politics - diplomacy, economics - trade - investment, science - technology, clean energy, telecommunications, people-to-people exchange, contributing to promoting Vietnam's relations with development partners in a practical, effective and in-depth manner. In addition, National Assembly Vice Chairman Le Minh Hoan, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, and leaders of the National Assembly's specialized committees also had many rich and diverse activities, and had meetings with heads of parliamentary delegations of partner countries to discuss in-depth bilateral and parliamentary cooperation.

Could you please tell us about the directions for implementing the results achieved in the meetings with Malaysian leaders and the 46th AIPA General Assembly?

The positive results of the visit have opened up opportunities to promote and deepen cooperation between Vietnam and Malaysia in many fields, commensurate with the stature of the newly established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In the coming time, relevant ministries, branches and localities of the two sides will complete and implement the Action Program for the period 2025 - 2030, one of the important frameworks to realize commitments, deepening the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

Firstly, the two sides will continue to promote high-level delegation exchanges and on all channels of the Party, Government, State, National Assembly, and people-to-people exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and trust; promote and improve the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms. Regarding cooperation between the two National Assemblies, the two sides will increase high-level delegation exchanges, committee-level exchanges, exchanges between female parliamentarians and young parliamentarians; share information and experience in building and perfecting appropriate legal frameworks, creating favorable conditions for implementing new contents/areas of cooperation within the framework of the newly established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; promote cooperation in monitoring the effective implementation of international treaties and cooperation agreements signed between the two governments.

Second, economic cooperation continues to be considered a bright spot in bilateral relations. Vietnamese ministries, departments, sectors and localities will proactively work with Malaysian partners to promote and support the participation of businesses from both countries to expand trade relations and direct investment, soon surpassing the target of reaching a trade turnover of 18 billion USD and aiming for higher goals. The two sides agreed to prioritize promoting the fields of oil and gas, energy, high technology, digital transformation of aquatic products, fisheries and Halal industry; especially encouraging cooperation between the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and the Malaysian National Oil and Gas Group (Petronas) to develop bilateral and trilateral energy projects and participate in projects in the ASEAN Power Grid.

Third, in the socio-cultural field, the two countries will strengthen people-to-people exchanges, expand educational cooperation programs, vocational training, especially high-quality human resources, further promote tourism, and provide more scholarships for Vietnamese students to study in Malaysia. The two sides agreed to strengthen education, promote youth exchanges and cooperation to create a deep connection between the people of the two countries. Along with that, the Party and State will also continue to pay attention to the thoughts, feelings and aspirations of the Vietnamese community living, studying and working in Malaysia so that the community can develop healthily and stably, contributing positively to the relationship as well as the stable and sustainable development of both nations.

Fourth, Vietnam will continue to support Malaysia's themes and priorities as ASEAN Chair 2025, closely cooperate and coordinate stances on international and regional issues of mutual concern, promote the building of a strong, united ASEAN Community that plays a central role in the region, and strive to promote peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperous development in the region and the world.

Regarding AIPA-46, according to the assessment of the AIPA Secretariat, the implementation rate of resolutions of the AIPA General Assembly of each session is high, often over 90%. This demonstrates the practicality of the resolutions, the determination and responsibility of member parliaments in implementing them. Recently, Vietnam has proactively proposed many resolutions, demonstrating the role and responsibility of the Vietnamese National Assembly. In the coming time, the National Assembly, ministries and branches need to immediately start effectively and responsibly implementing the resolutions adopted by the AIPA-46 General Assembly, continuing to turn the resolutions into policies that bring benefits to people and businesses, contributing to the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and strategic plans to build a dynamic, creative, self-reliant, inclusive and sustainable ASEAN Community.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/chuyen-cong-tac-khang-dinh-vai-tro-cam-ket-va-trach-nhiem-cua-viet-nam-doi-voi-hop-tac-aipa-va-asean-20250920134834694.htm