(VOVworld) – The 132^nd Inter-Parliamentary Union General Assembly will open in Hanoi in two weeks. The global event, attended by 2 thousand delegates, will provide an opportunity for Vietnam to contribute opinions to the world’s post-2015 sustainable development agenda and step up its global integration progress. Vietnam has finalized preparations to ensure the event’s success.

Vietnamese delegates at IPU 130 in Geneva, Switzerland

Vietnam has consulted the IPU Secretariat on topics for discussion, the resolution to be released, technical facilities, accommodations, and assistance for foreign delegates.

Diverse topics

IPU-132 will have 67 special sessions, 66 bilateral talks, a plenary meeting, and meetings of Permanent Committees, female parliamentarians, and young parliamentarians.

Under the theme “The sustainable development goals: Turning words into action”, IPU-132 will convey important messages of peace, democracy, social progress, and equality. Vietnam’s proposed topics were approved by the IPU. Vietnam also contributed opinions to the draft resolution and the Hanoi Declaration to be approved at IPU-132. In August the documents will be submitted to a summit of top officials of legislative bodies and in September to the UN General Assembly. Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong is Head of the IPU-132 organizing board: “2015 is an important year when the international community reviews the results of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals and prepares to implement new Sustainable Development Goals. This is the time for parliaments to voice their views and stances.”

Ensuring safety and logistics

IPU-132 will be the biggest diplomatic event that Vietnam has ever hosted. 34 Chairpersons and 31 Vice Chairpersons of Parliaments or National Assemblies will attend. The sub-committees have worked with the Secretariat on measures to ensure security, logistics, disease control, food safety and hygiene, infrastructure, and personnel. National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said: “Besides creating a friendly and welcoming image, we’ll definitely ensure a safe and peaceful environment before, during, and after the conference. We must guarantee safety for delegates to participate in the conference and bilateral talks, and visit localities.”

The organizing board has selected hundreds of volunteer students, who are fluent in foreign languages, to assist the delegates and the sub-committees. Nguyen Danh Tuyen is one of the volunteers: “We have been trained to assist the IPU by reading information about the event and receiving on-site training at airports and hotels. This is the first national event I’ve ever participated in. It’s tied to Vietnam’s national image and interests and I fully understand my responsibility. My friends and I have improved our knowledge of history and English to communicate fluently with foreigners and help them understand Vietnam.”

Vietnam’s thorough preparations for IPU 132 reveal its strong sense of responsibility toward the IPU and other international activities. National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said: “The Vietnamese National Assembly has been authorized by the IPU to host its 132^nd General Assembly. The Vietnamese National Assembly and government are well prepared for the event. I believe the conference will be a great success. This is an opportunity for Vietnam to contribute ideas to the world’s post-2015 development agenda and demonstrate its deeper and broader integration into the world.”