The position of parliamentary diplomacy
WVR - The National Assembly, with its position as the highest representative body of the people and the highest state power organ, has made important contributions in the overall implementation of foreign affairs activities, actively contributing to building Vietnam’s comprehensive and modern diplomacy.
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More than half the way through implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party and nearly a year of implementing Resolution No. 34-NQ/TW of the Politburo on a number of major orientations and guidelines for implementation foreign policy of the 13th Congress, our country’s foreign relations and international integration are increasingly deepening and achieving many outstanding achievements; contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, taking advantage of favorable factors for the cause of Doi moi (Renewal) and construction, protection and development of the country; enhance Vietnam’s international position and reputation.
The National Assembly, with its position as the highest representative body of the people and the highest state power organ, has made important contributions in the overall implementation of foreign affairs activities, actively contributing to building Vietnam’s comprehensive and modern diplomacy.
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| National Assembly Chairman attended the first CLV Parliamentary Summit themed "Strengthening the Role of Parliaments in Promoting Comprehensive Cooperation among Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam in Vientiane, December 6, 2023. (Photo: VNA) |
The National Assembly’s foreign affairs activities, bearing the characteristics of both state diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy, have been specifically carried out through the implementation of the key functions of the National Assembly. It is the legislature, supreme supervision and making decision on important issues of the country, including imperative foreign policy decisions of the State and in specific areas such as: (i) Building and perfecting the legal framework related to the field of foreign affairs and international integration; (ii) supervise the implementation of policies and laws in the field of foreign affairs and international integration; (iii) organize and implement the National Assembly’s foreign affairs activities within the bilateral framework, effectively promoting multilateral parliamentary cooperation mechanisms and other mechanisms.
Effectively perform functions
Over the past years, the National Assembly has built and perfected the legal framework for foreign affairs activities, meeting the requirements posed in the new situation and deep international integration of the country. The National Assembly has discussed, reviewed and passed many laws regulating foreign affairs activities and international integration; at the same time, review, amend and supplement relevant laws and ordinances, ensuring the national legal system is compatible with Vietnam’s international commitments.
Annually, the National Assembly reviews and confirms the Government’s Report on the world situation and the foreign affairs work of the Party and State; evaluates and sharpens the Government’s assessments on the world and regional situation, the results of the Party and State’s foreign affairs work in the year, and the direction for next year, emphasizing the role and effectiveness of the Party’s and State’s foreign affairs activities, highlighting foreign affairs activities of the National Assembly in the country’s overall foreign affairs work.
Performing the function of deciding important issues in the field of foreign affairs, the National Assembly has ratified the accession to many important treaties related to national sovereignty, borders, territory, and membership of Vietnam in international organizations, human rights, basic rights and obligations of citizens, making important contributions to international integration and management of the country’s foreign affairs and internalize international commitments. In particular, new generation free trade agreements such as CPTPP, EVFTA, EVIPA were all approved by the National Assembly with the approval rate of 100% of National Assembly attending delegates, affirming the support of the National Assembly, demonstrating Vietnam’s responsibility and determination in international integration, especially international economic integration; supporting diversification of Vietnam’s market, creating momentum for international economic integration and post COVID-19 pandemic domestic economic recovery.
In implementing parliamentary diplomacy, the National Assembly’s activities have left many outstanding marks. The National Assembly’s foreign affairs activities focus on deepening cooperation with other countries and international organizations, deepening relationships and bringing practical results; holding exchange experiences in parliamentary activities with countries around the world; promoting the support of parliaments in bilateral relations as well as multilateral cooperation mechanisms, on regional and international issues.
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| National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue visited the Fidel Castro Ruz Center on the occasion of his official visit to Cuba, April 2023. (Photo: VNA) |
Focus on multilateral foreign affairs activities
The National Assembly’s bilateral foreign affairs activities are deployed with a focus on relations with neighboring countries; deepening relations with strategic partner countries; substantively promoting relations with cooperative partners and traditional friends; and enhancing trust with other partners. Specifically, Chairman of the National Assembly and Vice Chairmen of the National Assembly, notably from the beginning of the term until now, have conducted many foreign affairs activities, including official visits by Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue to Austria, Belgium and EU/EP, Finland (August 2021); Republic of Korea, India (December 2021); Laos (May 2022); Hungary, Great Britain and Northern Ireland (June 2022), Cuba, Argentina, Uruguay (April 2023); Indonesia, Iran (August 2023); Bangladesh and Bulgaria (September 2023); to Laos and Thailand (December 2023), online talks with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People›s Congress (NPC) of China Zhao Leji
immediately after China successfully organized the first session two meetings to perfect the new State Leadership; visits to Spain (March 2023), Portugal and Belgium, EP (November 2023) by Standing Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man. Along with these activities, delegation exchanges at the Committee level, Friendship Parliamentary Groups, female National Assembly deputies, and young National Assembly delegates took place very actively. The National Assembly’s foreign affairs activities have been implemented with many comprehensive contents in fields associated with the functions and tasks of the National Assembly; with many diverse forms, direct meetings combined with online contacts, bilateral combined with multilateral meetings; with many diverse actors and partners, not only among legislative organs but also with executive, judicial and local agencies; in the direction of expanding and promoting in-depth, stable, and sustainable parliamentary cooperation with other countries, giving priority to partners with special relationships, strategic partners, and traditional friends, including Parliamentary cooperation with many partners such as China, Laos, Cambodia, Russia, Japan, the United States, India, South Korea, Cuba, France, which have been considered a bright spot and a model in bilateral relations; made important contributions to protecting and promoting Vietnam’s core interests; the role of the National Assembly in perfecting institutions, concretizing international commitments, contributing to the successful implementation of the Party’s foreign policy guidelines, and supporting the country’s socio-economic development.
On the occasion of official visits by the Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam to other countries or parliamentary leaders of foreign countries visiting Vietnam, on behalf of the National Assembly a number of international agreements are newly signed or re-signed between the National Assembly of Vietnam and parliamentary institutions of other countries. In particular, for many countries, the Cooperation Agreements which were signed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives (with Australia, Eastern Uruguay, and Belgium) are an important legal basis to continue promoting effective and practical cooperation between the National Assembly and agencies of the National Assembly of Vietnam and the Parliaments/Assemblies of other countries; at the same time, increase exchange and cooperation at regional and world parliamentary forums. Parliamentary diplomacy also promotes economic diplomacy in the spirit of Directive No. 15-CT/TW of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat on economic diplomacy to serve national development until 2030, contributing to the promotion of trade growth, attraction of foreign investment, through policy and legal forums to attract investment and promote trade on the occasion of official visits of the Chairman of the National Assembly.
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| The ninth Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians, themed “The Role of Young People in Promoting the Realisation of Sustainable Development Goals via Digital Transformation and Innovations”, opened in Hanoi on September 15. (Photo: Quochoi.vn) |
Multilateral parliamentary diplomacy activities
Multilateral parliamentary diplomacy activities of the Vietnamese National Assembly are implemented according to Directive 25-CT/TW dated August 8, 2018 of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat on promoting and elevating multilateral diplomacy to 2030. As an active member of the international community, Vietnam participates in key multilateral parliamentary diplomacy activities within the framework of multilateral parliamentary cooperation mechanisms such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), Francophone Parliamentary Alliance (APF), Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP), with many important initiatives, made substantive changes in the activities of these organizations, elevating Vietnam from “active participation” to “actively contributing to building and shaping the common rules of the game”, contributing to the effective protection and promotion of strategic interests in security and development of Vietnam. The active participation in inter-parliamentary forums in parallel with international forums of the Government such as IPU - United Nations, AIPA - ASEAN, APPF - APEC, APF - OIF has clearly shown the companionship of the National Assembly of Vietnam on regional and global issues. With thoughtful and thorough preparation of content, active and responsible participation, proactive proposal of constructive initiatives and recommendations, the contribution of the National Assembly of Vietnam at regional forums and international inter-parliamentary agencies have made important contributions to promoting the effectiveness of these organizations, and have been highly appreciated by the Parliaments of many countries. The participation of the Vietnamese delegation has ensured the implementation of the proposed political requirements with a practical and effective motto, ensuring national interests, maintaining Vietnam’s stance and principles, and at the same time being flexible, in balance with the common interests of the region, thereby gaining high support from other countries. Participation in the leadership apparatus of regional inter-parliamentary organizations such as the Executive Committee of APPF and APF demonstrates the role and position of Vietnam and the trust and support of Parliaments of other countries towards our National Assembly.
In particular, the Vietnamese National Assembly showed its sense of responsibility by hosting the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians and the 14th Meeting of the AIPA Caucus, creating a special mark in the international community, enhancing the position of the Vietnamese National Assembly at these forums. The multilateral parliamentary diplomacy activities of the Vietnamese National Assembly have contributed to affirming an important new step forward in Vietnam’s parliamentary diplomacy and the process of implementing Vietnam’s policy of proactive international and regional integration, actively contributing to the successful implementation of the Party and State’s foreign policies and guidelines.
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| Chairman of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee received international guest on the occations of the 9th Global Young Parliamentarians Conference, September 2023. |
To promote the role and advantages of parliamentary diplomacy which is bearing both state and people-to people diplomacy characteristics, aligned with the Party’s foreign affairs, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy, to promote building a comprehensive and modern diplomacy, and at the same time deepen bilateral relations between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the Parliaments of other countries in the direction of in-depth, stable, sustainable, proactive and positive international integration; contributing to enhancing the reputation of the National Assembly and Vietnam’s position in the international arena; the National Assembly Party Committee issued Conclusion No. 2035-KL/DĐQH15 dated November 13, 2023 on the foreign affairs orientation of the National Assembly for the 15th National Assembly tenure and up to 2030 with orienting contents for foreign affairs of the National Assembly from now to 2030 and specific directions and solutions to be implemented during the 15th National Assembly tenure. At the same time, the National Assembly’s Party Union issued the Project on external information and communication work of the 15th National Assembly tenure and by 2030, contributing to improving the quality and effectiveness of external information and communication work in the new situation, designing the outline, regulation and strategy for development of external information and communication work; thus, improving the effectiveness of the National Assembly’s external information and communication work in the coming time.
With the sense of responsibility, proactive approach, determination, executive direction and direct participation of the Chairman of the National Assembly, Vice Chairmen of the National Assembly, and the Standing Committee of the National Assembly; unity in the management of foreign affairs activities with the focal role of the Foreign Affairs Committee; the National Assembly’s foreign affairs activities are implemented comprehensively, smoothly and consistently according to the adopted program; promoting the specificity and “soft power” of parliamentary diplomacy, harmoniously combining it with Party diplomacy, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy, achieving many important results, contributing to conveying a strong message on strong image of an innovative, dynamic and action-oriented Vietnamese National Assembly, enhancing understanding of politicians and people of other countries, making a Vietnamese imprint; contributing to the overall success of the Party and State’s foreign affairs work; affirming the position of parliamentary diplomacy in the country’s comprehensive, modern.
