(VOVworld) – Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, IPU President Saber Chowdhury, and IPU General Secretary Martin Chungong hosted a press conference to introduce the contents of the 132^nd General Assembly of the Inter-parliamentary Union in Hanoi from March 28 to April 1.

Mr. Hung said IPU 132 was an important political milestone in the external legislative affairs of the Vietnamese National Assembly in particular and Vietnam in general. It’s a proud and an important task for the Vietnamese National Assembly. Vietnam has been ready for the IPU 132 and has pledged to ensure its success.

IPU President Saber Chowdhury and General Secretary Martin Chungong appreciated the theme of IPU 132, which will cover global issues, review the implementation of the UN millennium development goals since 2000, and determine cooperative framework for the future. Mr. Chowdhury said: “The theme “Sustainable development goals: Turning words into action” was chosen and proposed by the National Assembly of Vietnam. The discussions we will have will manifest itself in the Hanoi document and the Hanoi Declaration. This Declaration will feed in the UN process in September. We’re very privileged to be here. We value the partnership with the NA of Vietnam. They have done an exceptional work in term of the organization and hospitality. I’m sure the substance of our discussions will also be very important.”

Mr. Choudhury said gender equality was a top priority for the IPU. While praising Vietnam’s efforts to achieve 25% of female parliamentarians, he hoped that the IPU would be an opportunity for parliamentarians to share their experiences and learn from Vietnam’s model to make the event a milestone in boosting gender equality.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said: “During the law-making process we have always avoided regulations affecting women and children. During the next tenure, the Vietnamese National Assembly will try to have 30% or more of women deputies. President Ho Chi Minh said that if we have liberated the nation to bring independence, freedom, and prosperity for the people but have not liberated the women, we have only done half of our work.”