The 10^th Asia-Pacific meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophone (APF) took place in Da Nang on Monday.

Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man speaking at the opening ceremony of the event

In his opening speech delivered at the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man emphasised since its establishment in 2006, the Asia-Pacific region has recorded an impressive expansion in the number of participating divisions, strengthened practical experience exchange activities, and made positive contributions to the APF and the International Organisation of La Francophonie.

He affirmed that with the function of legislating, supervising and deciding on important issues of the country, and being the highest organ of State power and the highest representative body of the people, the National Assembly of Viet Nam has been actively renovating its activities towards efficiency and practicality in the spirit of democracy and the rule of law. At the same time, the agency has been building a legal system in sufficient quantity and increasing in quality in all fields.

As for inter-parliamentary diplomacy, the National Assembly of Viet Nam is an active and responsible member of regional and international inter-parliamentary organizations, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophone (APF), the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

The National Assembly of Viet Nam highly appreciated the APF for its great efforts in actively participating in international activities, initiating and implementing activities to promote inter-parliamentary cooperation, fostering friendship and solidarity among parliamentary institutions, especially in the Francophone Community, Mr. Man added.

Standing Vice Man underlined the necessary of discussions at the meeting in the context of the Asia-Pacific region severely affected by COVID-19 and a very complicated climate change situation.

Secretary of the Da Nang Party Committee Nguyen Van Quang delivering a speech at the event

He, therefore, suggested that the parliamentarians have open exchanges, dialogues and consultations, as well as seek creative solutions to the multi-dimensional challenges facing countries.

“Parliamentarians should make their efforts to contributing to the establishment and consolidation of effective trade partnerships between economic sectors in the Francophone space, thereby realising idea of setting up ​​an extensive economic Francophone community” Mr. Man said.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the meeting, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Quang said that till date, Da Nang has established friendly and cooperative relations with 47 localities of 22 countries and territories with 103 signed agreements in total.

Delegates, parliamentarians and representatives of regions and sub-committees posing for a group photo

He remarked the cooperation relationships between Da Nang and countries in the Francophone community will be consolidated and developed in many fields. The friendship and cooperation activities are a testament to the cooperative efforts between Francophone organisations and Da Nang.

Secretary Quang expressed his hope that with the active support of the APF, the relationships between Da Nang and member localities of the Asia-Pacific region in particular, and Viet Nam and the APF in general, will achieve good results in many spheres.

The meeting runs until November 30, with focus on discussing two important topics: the urgency of responsible and sustainable international cooperation in the field of climate change, and Parliament's role in health crisis control, and socio-economic reconstruction and development.

Reporting by LAM PHUONG - Translating by M.DUNG