Belgrade (VNA) – Permanent ViceChairwoman of the National Assembly (NA) Tong Thi Phong met with First DeputyPrime Minister and Foreign Minister of Serbia Ivica Dacic and attended theclosing ceremony of the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union(IPU-141) in Belgrade on October 17.

At the meeting with Ivica Dacic, the Vietnamese NAVice Chairwoman expressed her delight at Serbia’s achievements in nationaldevelopment.

She affirmed that Vietnam treasures thetime-tested friendship with Serbia and appreciates the European country’ssupport for Vietnam’s struggle for national liberation in the past, as well asnational development efforts at present.

Phong said she hopes the two countries willenhance cooperation in economy – trade, culture, education – training, andsports, on the basis of their own potential and strengths.

For his part, First Deputy PM and ForeignMinister Dacic shared his guest’s view on the traditional bilateral friendship,noting that he hopes his country’s relations with Vietnam will be strengthenedvia mutual visits at all levels.

He added he will soon pay a visit to Vietnam todiscuss measures to foster bilateral ties.

Later on October 17, Vice Chairwoman Phongattended the closing ceremony of the IPU-141, which adopted the BelgradeDeclaration on strengthening international law. 


The declaration highlighted the importance of arules-based peaceful world order and the role of multilateral institutions withthe United Nations being the foundation to resolve common challenges anddisputes among countries. It also stressed that regional cooperation is acritical element in enhancing the law-based world order, thus helping topeacefully settle disputes and promote sustainable peace.

The IPU-141 also adopted a resolution entitled“Achieving universal health coverage by 2030: The role of parliaments inensuring the right to health”. The resolution underscored the importance andnecessity of universal health coverage, especially of women, children, theelderly, the disabled, and other vulnerable groups in society.

The high-ranking NA delegation of Vietnam, ledby Vice Chairwoman Phong, took part in all activities of the IPU-141 andactively gave opinions at sessions of the IPU Executive Committee and GoverningCouncil, the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, the ASEAN Plus 3 mechanism, theIPU’s Asia-Pacific geopolitical group, the IPU Committee on Democracy and HumanRights, and the IPU Committee on UN Affairs.

Vice Chairwoman Phong delivered a speech at theplenary session of the IPU-141, which was themed “Strengthening internationallaw: Parliamentary roles and mechanisms, and the contribution of regionalcooperation.”

On the sidelines of the IPU-141, the Vietnamesedelegation had bilateral meetings with officials of the host country andpartners, including the IPU President and Secretary General, and heads of thedelegations of Laos, Myanmar, Australia, Cuba and Belarus.

The participation in the IPU-141 continued tohelp improve Vietnam’s stature in the international arena through playing an activerole in resolving regional and global challenges, and directing othercountries’ attention to regional security issues relevant to Vietnam’sbenefits, especially when it will serve as a non-permanent member of the UNSecurity Council for 2020-2021, ASEAN Chair in 2020, and Chair of the ASEANInter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) for 2019-2020./.