This is an important multilateral parliamentary diplomacy event held this year. The event will strengthen the Vietnamese National Assembly’s position in the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and further the foreign policy adopted at the 13th National Party Congress, enhancing Vietnam’s development and international integration.

Parliamentary diplomacy brought into full play

The 13th National Party Congress advocates consistent implementation of Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, coordinately, creatively, and effectively enhancing foreign affairs activities, including Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people's diplomacy.

Implementing this policy, the Vietnamese National Assembly has in recent years promoted parliamentary diplomacy to bring Vietnam closer to international friends, strengthen mutual trust and understanding, and move forward on a solid foundation of people’s interests, stability, and sustainable development of each country.

Parliamentary diplomacy, along with Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people's diplomacy, has contributed to creating a peaceful environment, serving national development and defense. Vietnam’s diplomatic activities have been focused on sharing initiatives, promoting the role of Parliaments in law building and amending to join the Government in economic recovery and development and settlement of regional and international problems.

Young parliamentarians’ contributions are promoted

In 2010, a landmark Resolution on "Youth Participation in the Democratic Process" was adopted at the General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU 122). In 2013, the Inter-Parliamentary Union established the Young Parliamentarians Forum, a permanent and formal mechanism to increase the quantitative and qualitative participation of young people in parliaments and in the IPU.

This Conference, which has been held 8 times, brings together young parliamentarians from all over the world to address issues of common concern. The 9th Global Young Parliamentarians Conference in Vietnam affirms the role and responsibility of the Vietnamese National Assembly in the IPU.

To continue promoting the voice of the young generation in solving global challenges, the 9th Global Young Parliamentarians Conference focuses on the role of young people in promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through digital transformation and innovation. This agenda is consistent with the current inevitable trend and is considered a priority of many countries. This is also an area where young people in general, and young parliamentarians in particular, can promote their voice, especially when only 12% of sustainable development goals have been implemented as scheduled. Discussions at the conference will cover digital transformation, entrepreneurship and innovation, and promoting cultural diversity for sustainable development, which are all current issues of global concern.

Vietnamese young parliamentarians’ role promoted

Young Vietnamese parliamentarians have engaged in several parliamentary diplomacy activities, making practical contributions at multilateral and bilateral forums, such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). At the 41^st session of AIPA, Vietnam proposed an informal conference of AIPA young parliamentarians. This initiative to form a conference mechanism for young parliamentarians received strong support.

Amid strong globalization, the 9th Global Young Parliamentarians Conference will further expand networks, strengthen solidarity and capacity, and create an opportunity for young parliamentarians to contribute to global issues.