National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man attends the opening session of the 45th AIPA General Assembly

On the morning of October 19, the 45th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45) solemnly opened at the National Convention Center in Vientiane (Laos) with the participation of delegations of member Parliaments/Assemblies, Observers and Development Partners of AIPA.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man led a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly to attend the opening ceremony.

In his welcoming speech to delegates attending AIPA-45, Lao National Assembly Chairman and AIPA 2024 Chair Saysomphone Phomvihane emphasized the importance of AIPA as a forum to exchange strategic orientations to realize the common goals of AIPA and ASEAN.

The 45th AIPA General Assembly took place in the context of complex and unpredictable developments in the international and regional situation, posing both opportunities and challenges, including many important issues such as conflicts breaking out in many places, climate change, natural disasters, and economic and financial crises.

In the face of unprecedented difficulties and challenges, cooperation continues to be valued and is a prominent trend in relations between countries.

AIPA President Saysomphone Phomvihane shared that the trend of solidarity and cooperation is clearly demonstrated through ASEAN's efforts in implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, achieving positive progress in implementing the ASEAN Community Blueprint 2025, the ASEAN Connectivity Blueprint 2025 and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan.

The AIPA 2024 President affirmed the important role of AIPA as a legislative body representing the will and aspirations of the people of ASEAN member states with the core task of supporting ASEAN in pursuing common goals and bringing practical benefits.

With the theme "The Role of Parliaments in Enhancing ASEAN Connectivity and Inclusive Growth," the AIPA President believes that AIPA-45 will complement ASEAN's joint cooperation efforts in the spirit of the 2024 theme of promoting connectivity and resilience.

This demonstrates AIPA's commitment to promoting the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, enhancing regional connectivity, promoting infrastructure development, perfecting the legal framework on transportation, telecommunications, energy connectivity and other important areas.

These initiatives facilitate trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchanges among ASEAN member countries, promote economic integration, narrow the development gap, improve people's quality of life, and contribute to strengthening a harmonious and equally developed Community with open relations with external partners.

Appreciating the close connection between AIPA and ASEAN, the President of AIPA-45 suggested that AIPA and ASEAN need to strengthen cooperation and support each other in fulfilling their assigned tasks, promoting peace, stability and sustainable development, serving the practical interests of the people.

In that spirit, AIPA President Saysomphone Phomvihane asked delegates to participate in a constructive, responsible, creative spirit, upholding the ASEAN consensus principle.

“Your valuable contributions will affirm AIPA's important role in promoting ASEAN's common mission, representing the rights and interests of the people,” AIPA President 2024 affirmed.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith highly appreciated the theme of the 45th AIPA General Assembly as having important significance in the overall joint efforts of ASEAN to realize the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. This also demonstrates the commitment and efforts to turn Laos from a landlocked country into a connecting hub in the region.

Sharing the same goals as the United Nations Agenda 2030, AIPA-45 will be an opportunity for the National Assemblies/Parliaments of the countries to openly discuss, build, strengthen cooperation, and orient the future of AIPA, contributing to the process of building an increasingly strong, more connected, more self-reliant ASEAN Community, meeting the interests and aspirations of the people.

Affirming the role of AIPA as a legislative body representing the rights and interests of ASEAN people, the Lao General Secretary and President emphasized that AIPA makes an important contribution to consolidating the legal foundation, especially in promulgating laws, disseminating legal information, ratifying conventions and actively promoting the implementation of the ASEAN cooperation framework, and strengthening relations with partners.

With its diverse culture, traditions, languages ​​and beliefs, the Lao General Secretary and President expressed his pride in ASEAN's traditions, turning diversity and differences into strength to achieve the common goal of building a peaceful, stable and progressive region based on the fundamental principles of the ASEAN Charter.

The Lao General Secretary and President also believes that Timor Leste's early becoming a full member of ASEAN will help further promote the region's potential and self-reliance.

General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith affirmed that with 27 years of being a member of ASEAN and 3 times holding the ASEAN Chairmanship, Laos always considers ASEAN an important pillar in the country's foreign policy; emphasizing that all departments, ministries and sectors of Laos participate in the integration process with a sense of responsibility, contributing to the common development of the Community, realizing the overarching goal of maintaining peace, security, stability, and creating a favorable environment for socio-economic development.

The Lao General Secretary and President believes that with the tradition of solidarity, cooperation and mutual support, the 45th AIPA General Assembly will be a great success, following the success of the 44th-45th ASEAN Summits and related conferences that took place in Laos from October 8-11, 2024.

On this occasion, on behalf of the Party, State and people of Vietnam, General Secretary and President To Lam sent a message to the 45th AIPA General Assembly.

In his message, General Secretary and President To Lam highly appreciated the theme of this General Assembly to promote “The role of parliaments in enhancing connectivity and comprehensive growth of ASEAN.”

The General Secretary and President welcomed the important contributions of AIPA over the past 50 years as a legislative and supervisory body, contributing to building a united and united ASEAN Community for peace, cooperation, prosperous development, and bringing benefits to all people.

Emphasizing that ASEAN is at an important moment in the process of building the Community, moving towards strong changes, the General Secretary and President said that it is necessary to continue to strengthen the connection and mutual support between AIPA and ASEAN, in which ASEAN cooperation is an important foundation to promote inter-parliamentary cooperation and AIPA cooperation is the driving force and creates a favorable framework, effectively supporting state/government diplomacy between ASEAN member states as well as with ASEAN's partners.

The Vietnamese National Assembly has been and will participate proactively, positively and responsibly in AIPA activities, contributing to building a united, strong and prosperous ASEAN Community.

Affirming this, General Secretary and President To Lam believes that under the chairmanship of the AIPA-45 President, the close cooperation of delegates and the careful preparation of the host country's National Assembly, AIPA-45 will certainly be a great success.