The Assembly, themed “Parliamentary accountability: living up to people's expectations”, focused on improving the role of the Parliament and issues related to peace and security, finance and trade, sustainable development, democracy, and human rights.

During the 124th IPU, the Vietnamese delegation also attended the 260th meeting of the Executive Board.

It also chaired the ASEAN+3 group Meeting, the Asia-Pacific Group Meeting, the Meeting of Women Parliamentarians, the Meeting of the Gender Partnership Group, and other sideline events.

Speaking at the Assembly, head of the Vietnamese delegation Nguyen Van Son introduced Vietnam’s renewal process and expressed the country’s agreements with the Assembly’s theme.

In addition to each national parliament, the world and regional inter-parliamentary mechanism plays an important role in boosting the parliaments’ accountability to meet people’s expectation, especially when the social, economic, and political situation is getting more complicated, Mr. Son said.

He affirmed the role and accountability of the Vietnamese NA in meeting the expectations of Vietnamese people and ASEAN people in general.

The Peace and International Security Committee discussed and approved a resolution to provide a sound legislative framework aimed at preventing electoral violence, improving election monitoring and ensuring a smooth transition of power.

The Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade Committee issued a resolution on the role of parliaments in ensuring sustainable development through the management of natural resources, agricultural production and demographic change. The Committee also called upon the developed countries to fulfil their commitments, in particular by providing 0.7 per cent of their GDP to Official Development Assistance (ODA).

The Democracy and Human Rights Committee approved a resolution on transparency and accountability in the funding of political parties and election campaigns.

The IPU Assembly also issued a political declaration on calling for urgent global action to assist earthquake- and tsunami-hit Japan and to prevent the impact of the disaster on the region as a whole, discussed Parliamentary action to strengthen the right to self-determination of peoples within the framework of international law, and approved a resolution on Strengthening democratic reform in emerging democracies, including North Africa and the Middle East.

On the sideline of the Assembly, the Vietnamese delegation worked with those from Cuba, Cambodia, the Republic of Korea, Japan, France, Belgium, South Africa, Chile, Venezuela, Panama, and Switzerland.