National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (center) launches the portal and mobile app of AIPA 2020. (Photo: VNA)

Van told reporters in Jakarta ahead of the meeting which will open on Tuesday that the thorough and professional preparation for AIPA 41 has left good impression on and won the trust of global and regional friends. This is the third time the Vietnamese National Assembly has served as AIPA Chair and hosted an AIPA General Assembly, but the first time the event takes place virtually, she said.

AIPA Secretary General Nguyen Tuong Van (Photo: VNA)

The theme of AIPA 41, “Parliamentary Diplomacy for a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community”, matches the theme of Vietnam’s 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship, which is “Cohesive and Responsive”, aiming to create high consensus among member countries and inherit the outcomes of the 36th ASEAN Summit in June, especially proposals by Vietnam which were endorsed by other countries.

Vietnam has proposed themes for meetings of women parliamentarians and the AIPA committees on politics, economics, and social matters which all center around COVID-19 impacts.