The 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41) will be held virtually for the first time from September 8-10 at Hanoi’s International Conference Centre.

AIPA 41 Committees discuss preparations for the event slated for September 2020 

The decision was made amid concerns about the complex development of the novel coronavirus pandemic in the region and the world, as well as in Vietnam, the host of this year’s meeting.

Addressing the second session of the National Steering Committee and the Organising Committee for AIPA 41 in Hanoi on August 5, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan noted Vietnam is determined to successfully organize the upcoming AIPA General Assembly to leave a fine impression on international friends.

She emphasized the importance of the preparatory work for the event, from internet infrastructure to logistics and communications to ensure the meeting will take place in a smooth manner.

She asked sub-committees to work closely together to draw up a detailed working agenda close to the major theme of the event, in order to create a high consensus among the parliaments of member states and observers.

It is also important to promote communications before, during and after the AIPA General Assembly, Ngan said.

The National Steering Committee and the Organizing Committee for AIPA 41 convened its first session in November 2019 to work out preparations for hosting the regional event.

In March 2020, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, who is also AIPA 41 President, sent a letter to leaders of all AIPA member states and AIPA General Secretary, sharing losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to the people of ASEAN. She called on the regional parliaments to uphold the spirit of solidarity and join hands with the Governments in dealing with the pandemic.

The legislature leader also co-hosted the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with AIPA Representatives in June 2020 on the occasion of the 36th ASEAN Summit.

In June and July 2020, the Vietnam National Assembly successfully chaired the third meeting of the AIPA Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs (AIPACODD 3) and the conference on “Parliamentary Partnership on Educational and Cultural Cooperation for Sustainable Development” (AIPAECC). All these events were held virtually.