VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong said the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation (AIPO) has an important role in regional politics but it must change the way it is organised.
NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong made the remark at the 27th AIPO General Assembly meeting which opened in Sebu in the Philippines, on September 11.
Mr Trong, who is leading a Vietnamese delegation to the meeting, said suggestions made by an AIPO's commission in charge of reform on revising AIPO's regulations, and the role and obligations of its General Secretary should be discussed at this meeting.
The Vietnamese NA leader stressed that since Vietnam became an AIPO member in 1995, it has received valuable support and co-operation from other members. He said the country's legislative body has participated in many common activities, and contributed to AIPO becoming an effective and united organisation.
He affirmed that the Vietnamese NA will fulfill its obligations as a member of the AIPO as it promised in Singapore in 1995.
State President Nguyen Minh Triet and the leaders of other ASEAN member countries cabled their congratulations to the 27th AIPO meeting. In his letter, Triet wrote the AIPO had become an important regional political forum, had contributed to mutual understanding and expanding co-operation in many fields, and had resolved a number of urgent political, security and socio-economic issues.
The 27th AIPO meeting was attended by eight AIPO members, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. There were also two special observers in attendance - Brunei and Myanmar, as well as nine other observers, including Australia, Canada, China, EU, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Russia.
(Source: VNA)
