The Vietnamese delegation, led by Chairman Man, attended the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-152) in Istanbul at the invitation of IPU President Tulia Ackson and Secretary General Martin Chungong, conducted bilateral activities in Turkey, and paid an official visit to Italy from Saturday to Friday.
In his address at the general debate, Chairman Man highlighted unprecedented global challenges but expressed confidence in the future through strengthened international solidarity, adherence to the rule of law, and concrete national actions.
He put forward three proposals to enhance inter-parliamentary cooperation, including promoting dialogue and trust-building, improving legal frameworks and supervision over the implementation of international commitments, and ensuring fair and equitable law enforcement.
The delegation also engaged actively across IPU mechanisms, including the Governing Council, standing committees, the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, the Forum of Young Parliamentarians, the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments, and regional groupings such as the Asia-Pacific Group and ASEAN+3. Notably, Vietnam will assume the rotating chairmanship of the ASEAN+3 group for the upcoming IPU-153.
Chairman Man also held numerous bilateral meetings with parliamentary leaders, helping to enhance political trust and cooperation across various areas including trade, investment, science-technology, innovation, digital transformation, and defence-security.
Deputy Minister Giang said the top legislator’s bilateral engagements in Italy and Turkey helped deepen Vietnam’s relations with important partners, including those in Europe and the Middle East, while mobilising external resources for national development.
Italy reaffirmed Vietnam as a reliable partner with great cooperation potential and pledged continued support in enhancing Vietnam's ties with the European Union. Meanwhile, Turkey signalled its intention to elevate bilateral relations and identified Vietnam as an important partner in the Asia-Pacific.
Italy agreed that both sides should make better use of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to further strengthen connectivity. It also reaffirmed its support for EU member states to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and for efforts to remove the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning imposed on Vietnamese seafood.
Vietnam and Turkey two agreed to expand bilateral trade in a more balanced manner, and explore the possibility of launching negotiations on a free trade deal.
The trips also generated new momentum in emerging areas such as innovation, artificial intelligence, green transition, and energy transformation, alongside traditional sectors like education, culture, and defence-security, Deputy Minister Giang noted.
He described the meetings between the NA Chairman and Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican's Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin as particularly meaningful engagements, with both sides agreeing to continue fostering mutual trust and understanding, toward the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Holy See, as well as facilitating a future visit to Vietnam by the Pope at the invitation of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam.
