National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, who is currently the President of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) 2020, has called on AIPA member parliaments to stay united to protect the regional bloc from the novel coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter sent out on March 30 to the heads of AIPA member parliaments, Chairwoman Ngan proposed that all AIPA members join hands with their governments to cope with the pandemic, by bringing into full play their legislative role, endorsing measures and policies introduced by the governments, aimed at timely responding to the outbreak, while facilitating resource allocation and enhancing connectivity with the people.

Vietnam National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan calls for joint AIPA
efforts to protect the common house ASEAN from the coronavirus pandemic

She noted that people worldwide, including those in Southeast Asia, are facing an unprecedented threat for decades. As the AIPA President, she expressed sympathy with and shared losses the pandemic has caused to people of ASEAN countries and humankind in general.

More than ever, the ASEAN Community should uphold the spirit of solidarity, sharing, mutual assistance and support against the COVID-19 pandemic, Mrs Ngan stressed.

She highly appreciated declarations and timely actions delivered by world leaders and the World Health Organisation, including Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in his capacity as the ASEAN 2020 Chair, to respond to the pandemic.

Timely and effective actions by ASEAN Governments, tireless contributions and sacrifices by all forces, particularly frontline doctors, have significantly contributed to ongoing efforts to prevent and stamp out the pandemic in ASEAN countries, she said.

Assuming the role of AIPA President in 2020, Mrs Ngan said the Vietnam National Assembly has made active preparations for and stands ready to coordinate and organize events within the framework of the AIPA Chairmanship Year. However, these events must be postponed to give priority to protecting people’s health and combating the pandemic. She hoped AIPA would find suitable ways to organize these events in the near future.

The Vietnam National Assembly will do its utmost, together with support and unity of all AIPA member parliaments, to make the AIPA Chairmanship Year 2020 a great success, for the sake of peace, safety and happiness of the people, and for sustainable development and prosperity of all ASEAN countries and around the world, Mrs Ngan affirmed in her letter.

The Chairwoman of the Vietnam National Assembly expressed her strong belief that, with great determination, solidarity and efforts to be made, ASEAN countries will definitely overcome difficulties in order to bring peace to people.