Top leader: AIPA should continue joining efforts to further promote ASEAN centrality

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong appreciate and applaud efforts to hold the 41st AIPA General Assembly in virtual format

• Remarks by PM Nguyen Xuan Phucat 41st AIPA General Assembly

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong stressed the point in his video message to the opening ceremony of the 41^st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly this morning.

Trong said the world and Southeast Asia are witnessing rapid and extraordinarily profound changes, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and major powers strategic competition.

Globalization, connectivity and international integration are faced with numerous difficulties, and adjustment is required to adapt to the new circumstances.

The whirlwind development of science and technology, as well as the digital transformation process across the globe present countries with both opportunities and challenges.

In that context, the ASEAN Community and AIPA in particularly should underscore the importance of cohesion, resilience to respond to the new situation and to meet the ever-rising aspirations of our people, businesses and international friends.

Viet Nam’s foreign policy of openness, multilateralization and diversification of foreign relations for peace, amity, cooperation and development, bears close resemblance to ASEAN’s.

An ASEAN that is strong, an ASEAN that has central role in the region, an ASEAN that is the driver of regional and international cooperation is not only a pillar of support for Viet Nam, but also its goal.

Trong expressed his belief that it is now more important than ever that AIPA should continue making contributions to the efforts to further promote the ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture, multilateralism, connectivity and international cooperation, and rule of law for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

He emphasized that the 41^st AIPA General Assembly is of significant importance as it will contribute to realizing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and chartering orientations for cooperation in post-2025 period and effective response to regional and international complexities and unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trong took the occasion to appreciate and applaud efforts to hold the 41^st AIPA General Assembly in virtual format, which illustrates the resolve of the National Assembly of Viet Nam and the member parliaments to join hands in solidarity to overcome difficulties and promote cooperation and development of the ASEAN Community./.

By Ngoc Van