(VOVWORLD) - National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue is now in Austria for the 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (WCSP5) from Monday to Wednesday. He will also work with the European Parliament and pay visits to Belgium and Finland. Mr. Hue’s visits are expected to promote Vietnam’s open foreign policy, its image as a responsible and dynamic country in multilateral cooperation, and its aspiration for development.
 National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue begins a Europe tour |
Chairman Hue’s tour is the first visit to Europe by a high-ranking leader of the Vietnamese Party and State following the 13th National Party Congress in February. This is also the first direct diplomatic activity of the Vietnamese National Assembly in 2021.
Multilateral parliamentary diplomacy promoted
The 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament is being held with the overall theme of “Parliamentary leadership for more effective multilateralism that delivers peace and sustainable development for the people and planet”. The conference is focused on pressing issues that need to be addressed immediately, like global response to COVID-19 and post-pandemic recovery, climate change emergencies, prevention of misinformation, and young people’s participation in politics and gender equality.
Chairman Hue’s participation at the event demonstrates Vietnam’s sense of responsibility for multilateral parliamentary diplomacy and reflects its role and prestige within regional and global parliamentary cooperation mechanisms.
In his address to the plenary session, Chairman Hue highlighted Vietnam’s views on the conference’s theme. The Vietnamese delegation contributed their ideas and initiatives to the global fight against COVID-19. At bilateral meetings held within the framework of the conference, Vietnam sought different sources of COVID-19 vaccines, medicines, and medical supplies.
 National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue meets staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Austria |
Bilateral ties enhanced
During his tour, Chairman Hue will hold bilateral meetings with Parliament Speakers of other countries and meet business leaders in Austria. Austria is Vietnam’s 8th largest trade partner in the EU, with bilateral trade totaling more than 3 billion USD. Austria currently has 35 projects in Vietnam. The legislatures of Austria and Vietnam maintain close bilateral ties.
Mr. Hue will also meet intellectuals and representatives of overseas Vietnamese businesses in Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia to explain Vietnam’s policies for overseas Vietnamese affairs and encourage them to fight the pandemic.
Since 2000, the Vietnamese National Assembly has participated in multiple activities of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. At the 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, Mr. Hue will highlight Vietnam’s responsibility, dynamism, and openness in promoting multilateral cooperation and its aspiration to grow during the pandemic.
Chairman Hue’s visit demonstrates Vietnam’s respect for the Conference, the European Parliament, the European Union, and the Parliaments of its European partners.