WELCOME REMARKS
BY
HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM
TRUONG TAN SANG
AT THE INAUGURAL CEREMONY OF
THE 132ND INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION
(Hanoi, March 28th 2015)
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Your Excellency Mr. Saber Chowdhury, President of the IPU,
Excellencies Leaders and Members of Parliaments,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great honor for the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to be the host of the 132nd Assembly of the Inter – Parliamentary Union in the capital city of Ha Noi for the first time since Viet Nam’s admission to the IPU 36 years ago. This is the greatest event in multilateral diplomacy ever held in Viet Nam and also one of the most important events of our country in 2015 – the year of great celebrations to mark major historical milestones of the Vietnamese nation in the course of national construction and defense.
On behalf of the State and the people of Viet Nam, I would like to welcome all distinguished delegates who represent the IPU’s 166 member parliaments, 10 associate members, observers and international organizations. Allow me to extend to you all the warmest congratulations, sincere sentiments and hospitality of the State and the people of Viet Nam. I do hope that during your stay in Ha Noi, you will have a chance to explore the historical, cultural traditions of Viet Nam as well as the beauty of her land and people.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Building on the ideas and vision of the IPU’s founding fathers seeking an international institution for parliamentary cooperation, throughout its history of nearly 130 years, the IPU has evolved to become the most important forum for inter-parliamentary cooperation. The IPU has made positive and remarkable contributions to peace, cooperation, development, democracy, social progress and social equality and human rights. Its existence and strong development against many ups and downs of history present eloquent testimony to the significant role of parliaments in building a world of peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity.
The world we live in today is going through swift, profound and unpredictable changes. As we share the common understanding that peace and stability serve as the important premise and solid foundation for sustainable development, we remain gravely concerned about the increasing trend of instability; religious and ethnic conflicts; disputes over territories, natural resources, seas and islands; arms races; non-traditional security issues such as climate change, epidemics, and water security; power politics and the defiance of international laws. With the theme “Sustainable Development Goals: Turning Words into Actions,” this IPU Assembly presents us an enormous task to exchange ideas and work together to realize the common goals of mankind. One of the priorities in the agenda of the 132nd IPU Assembly is to “turn words into actions” so that laws and the fundamental principles of international laws shall be respected, the agreements and codes of conduct in international relations shall be strictly observed, disputes and disagreements shall be resolved by peaceful means and all nations shall be entitled to equal rights.
I wish to take this opportunity to underline that as an active and responsible member of the IPU and other international organisations, Viet Nam has been doing its best to join hands all other countries in the international community to build a world of peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity. Viet Nam pursues the policy of settling disputes and disagreements among countries, including the East Sea issue, by peaceful means on the basis of international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and agreements among countries in the region, opposing the use of force or threat of force.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Over the last 36 years, Viet Nam has always been standing side by side with other IPU members to strive for the common goals of sustainable development, promotion of democracy, protection of human rights, gender equality, rights of the child and other fundamental rights and freedoms. From a country devastated by wars and having a low starting point in the process of development, Viet Nam today has become a development partner with a dynamic economy, an open-door foreign policy and a promising destination to foreign investors. The remarkable achievements on social progress obtained by Viet Nam, many of which in the implementation of the “Millennium Development Goals” such as poverty reduction, universal education, clean water, epidemic control, HIV-AIDS prevention and gender equality, have been recognized and praised by the United Nations and the international community.
In the years to come, together with other IPU members, Viet Nam will exhaust all efforts to implement the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals and consider these as the priorities in realizing the goal of building Viet Nam into a country with “wealthy people, strong nation, democratic, just and advanced society”. Accordingly, Viet Nam will continue promoting the comprehensive reform, building a rule-of-law State, expanding democracy, promoting administrative, judiciary and legislative reform, harmonizing economic growth with resolving social problems, environmental protection and maintaining political and social stability.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
A goal without action is just a wish. In the spirit highlighted by its theme, I believe that the 132nd IPU Assembly will be an Assembly of actions to turn ideas and recommendations into practical outcomes, thus contributing to enhancing the role of parliaments in addressing urgent global issues.
I also believe that with a high sense of responsibility and the whole-hearted contributions of you all, and under the chair of Excellency Saber Chowdhury, the 132nd Assembly of the IPU in Ha Noi will be a great success.
Last but not least, I would like to thank the IPU as well as generations of international parliamentarians for your due attention and precious support extended to the Vietnamese people.
I wish you all good health and happiness during your stay in Viet Nam.
Thank you.