(VOVworld) – On Thursday, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung left New York for Boston to begin his official visit to the US.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung (R) and Parliament Speaker of Sweden Urban Ahlin (Photo: VNA)

Earlier on Wednesday he held separate meetings with Parliament Speaker of Sweden Urban Ahlin, the President of the concurrent UN General Assembly, and the President of the previous term on the sidelines of the 4th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in New York.

While talking with Mr. Hung, President of the 69^th session of the UN General Assembly Sam Kahama Kutesa praised the role of Vietnam’s National Assembly and Vietnam’s performance of the Millennium Development Goals. Sam expressed his hope that Vietnam’s legislative body will continue its contributions to the UN General Assembly’s programs, especially the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on national, regional, and global scales.

At the meeting with the Swedish Parliament Speaker Urban Ahlin, Chairman Hung thanked Sweden’s support for Vietnam to successfully organize the 132^nd IPU in Hanoi in March. He said he hopes Sweden will serve as a bridge to enhance ties between Vietnam and Northern European countries. In turn, Vietnam is willing to help Sweden expand rapports with the ASEAN. NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung also asked the Swedish Parliament to support Vietnam’s candidacy as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure and a member of the UN Economic and Social Council for 2016-2018.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and President of the 70th UN General Assembly Mogens Lykketoft (Photo: VNA)

During talks with President Mogens Lykketoft, Chairman Hung congratulated Lykketoft on his election as President of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly. He voiced his hope that the spirit of the Hanoi Declaration will be reflected in documents of the upcoming UN Summit on approving the post-2015 Development Agenda.

Mr. Hung insisted that Vietnam’s NA is affirming its role and position in legislation, supervision, decision making for national major issues, and proactive participation in inter-parliament forums.

NA Chairman Hung highlighted Vietnam’s commitments to continue with efforts to fulfill SDGs and criteria to be adopted by the UN.

The same day, Chairman Hung received Speaker of the People’s Assembly of Syria Mohamad Jihad Allaham, during which he reiterates Vietnam’s wish to promote the fruitful friendship with Syria and offered sympathy to Syria over the difficulties caused by uncertainties and conflicts there. The Syrian Speaker called on the legislative bodies of both countries to increase cooperation and experience sharing in law-making, adding that Syria wants to learn from Vietnam’s socio-economic development experience, particularly in agriculture.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and Cuban NA Vice President Ana Maria Machado Mari (Photo: VNA)

At a meeting with NA chief Nguyen Sinh Hung, Ana Maria Mari Machado, Vice President of Cuban National Assembly, said the two legislative bodies will continue to create favorable conditions for state agencies to increase exchange of visits, implement bilateral agreements, improve the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms including the inter-government committee on cooperation in economics, science, and technology and the political reference.

At the meeting with former parliamentarian Joseph P. Kennedy and representatives of US enterprises, Chairman Hung said Vietnamese government and NA are willing to support foreign firms including those from the US to invest in Vietnam. He called on investors to pay more attention to the environment, raise social responsibility during their implementation of projects in Vietnam and help Vietnam train personnel, transfer technology, and develop sustainably.