A delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) led by its Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong has been joining activities within the framework of the 28th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum Annual Meeting (APPF-28) in Canberra, Australia, from January 13-16.

A delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA), led
by Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong at the event 

Themed “Parliamentary partnerships to 2020 and beyond,” this year’s meeting has brought together delegations from 19 APPF member parliaments and 10 observer parliaments.

It includes a woman parliamentarians meeting and three plenary sessions on political and security matters, economic and trade issues, and regional cooperation.

In his opening address on January 13, Cambodian NA President Samdech Heng Samrin, President of APPF-27, hailed the outcomes of APPF-27 hosted by Cambodia in Siem Reap last year, which has contributed to developing parliamentary diplomacy, building trust, promoting peace, stability and security, and fostering an open, free and fair trade system in Asia-Pacific.

The forum has also enhance greater efforts to respond to climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emission, strengthen women’s role, improve gender equality and empower women and children for peace and sustainable development in the region, the Cambodian NA leader said.

Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives Tony Smith, who is President of APPF-28, underscored the importance of the forum to regional and global peace, security, trade and investment, particularly in the wake of numerous security challenges, such as terrorism, extremism, cyber security issues and other non-traditional security issues.

The APPF-28 is part of the Australian Parliament’s International Programme, which helps to deepen understanding, sharing of knowledge and democratic development with other fellow parliaments across the globe.

A minute’s silence was also held at the opening in memory of former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, who was one of the event’s founders and died in late 2019.

NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong is due to  give a speech at the first plenary session on political and security matters and hold bilateral meetings on the fringes of the meeting on January 14.