(VOVworld) – Themed “Sustainable development goals: Turning words into action”, the 132^nd General Assembly of the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU 132) in Hanoi from March 28 to April 1 will be an important forum to enhance the parliament’s voice in implementing international development goals. The outcome of IPU 132 will be the basis for the UN to set sustainable development goals for the post-2015 period.

Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and IPU President Saber Chowdhury

Established in 1889, the IPU is an international organization of parliaments of sovereign states. The IPU’s guidelines are peace for all people, equality, humanity, respecting and protecting human rights, national rights, and the right to freedom and happiness. With 166 members and 10 associate members, the IPU has become a global center for external legislative affairs with a mandate to promote peace, democracy, and cooperation among nations and parliaments.

Vietnam raises high the flag of solidarity and peace

The IPU’s guidelines are in line with Vietnam’s aspirations and development orientation. Hosting IPU-132 as the Union finetunes its action program to that of the UN for the next 15 years, Vietnam will advocate democracy, peace, and development worldwide. National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said: "If we want unity, peace, and cooperation worldwide to share and together build happy and prosperous lives, we must respect human and national rights and build solidarity from mutual trust. We’ll generate a global power to push cooperative efforts to success."

Mr. Hung said parliaments have an important role in their nation in allocating resources, distributing the state budget, creating legal mechanisms for implementing national target programs, and fulfilling sustainable development goals. Mr. Hung said it’s necessary to have consensus and joint actions among parliaments to realize sustainable development goals: “Vietnam has proposed sustainable development targets and will exert efforts to turn words, programs, and resolutions into actions. IPU 132 will set millennium goals and ways to reach them over the next 15 years.”

Building firm trust

During its 30 years of renewal and integration, Vietnam has escaped poverty to become a developing, middle-income country. It’s been a turning point in Vietnam’s global integration. In 36 years of IPU membership, the Vietnamese National Assembly has always been an active and responsible member. It has held a number of important positions in the IPU.

Vietnam has proposed several initiatives to implement millennium goals like universal primary education, greater gender equality, and a stronger role and status for women.  Vietnam’s achievements in implementing millennium goals have been hailed internationally. Vietnam is one of the 5 developing nations in Asia with the highest percentage of female parliamentarians. Vietnam has used the experience of other parliaments to improve its own performance and the bonds between its National Assembly and the IPU. IPU General Secretary Martin Chungong: “My first program was to work with the Vietnamese parliament to build its documentation base to help introduce ICT in parliament. We all understand that it was the NA that initiated the master plan for ICT in Vietnam. The conference taking place here is one way for Vietnam to showcase its successes in some areas and also to learn from the experience of others.”

Vietnam’s active role in IPU, its renewal achievements, and its thorough preparations for IPU 132 will guarantee the success of the IPU 132 event.