Vietnam takes Presidency of Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum

Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji Ruveni N. Nadalo expressed his honour to transfer the APPF presidency and hosting of the 26^th APPF to the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA). He stressed that the Fiji Parliament believed the Vietnamese NA would organize the 26^th APPF successfully, pledging that the Fiji Parliament would assist the Vietnamese NA in organizing the event.

Authorized by Vietnamese NA leader Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, NA Standing Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong spoked that the nation was proud to be assigned the APPF Presidency and to chair the 26^th APPF meeting in January 2018.

She appreciated APPF activities and contents in promoting the friendly and cooperative relations among parliaments; reinforcing dialogue mechanisms and exchange among parliamentarians; raising the role of parliaments in addressing common issues in the region, ensuring peace, stability and sustainable development.

Since its APPF membership in 1995, the Vietnamese NA has made great efforts in realizing its responsibilities in APPF activities, especially in 2005 when the Vietnamese NA, for the first time, organized the 13^th APPF meeting in Quang Ninh province, which left deep impressions in international friends’ hearts.

Following the success of the Vietnamese NA in multilateral parliamentary activities, including at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-31), the Vietnamese NA pledged to do its utmost to successfully organize the 26^th APPF meeting.

“The Vietnamese NA hopes to receive continued support from IPU President and Secretary-General, as well as the coordination from parliaments,” said Ms Phong./.