Hanoi (VNA) - National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue called for theASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA)'s solidarity and commonresponsibility in cooperating and sharing experience, especially theapplication of science, technology, to effectively control the COVID-19pandemic, while addressing the 42nd AIPA General Assembly viavideoconference on August 23.

In his speech, Huestressed that the world and the ASEAN region continue to face tremendousdifficulties and challenges posed by the pandemic, causing casualties and disruptionsof the regional supply chain, and significantly affecting economic growth andexacerbating social inequality, including digital inequality and socialwelfare.

“More than ever,the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the urgency across the board pertainingto state governance, and adjustments of policies and development goals. It has alsoemphasized the demand for digitalization and the building of a digital economy,so as to timely respond to the pandemic and sustain socio-economic development,”he stated.

According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic constitutes acatalyst for ASEAN’s endeavours to accelerate the digitalisation of its economy,effectively harness the 4th Industrial Revolution, narrow the digital gap, andensure digital equality in the region.

He highly commended the first ASEAN Digital Ministers’Meeting in January 2021 for approving the ASEAN Digital Master Plan 2025, and supportedthe efforts to adopt and implement ASEAN’s Consolidated Strategy on the 4thIndustrial Revolution.

Such endeavours would serve to create an innovative ASEANCommunity and enhance ASEAN’s competitiveness in the global economy, he added.

“The theme “Forging Parliamentary Cooperation in DigitalInclusion towards ASEAN Community 2025” outlines the need to further build onthe vital role of AIPA and its Member Parliaments in accelerating digitalisation,ensuring stable growth and fostering sustainable recovery of ASEAN, therebymaintaining ASEAN’s key contributions to regional peace, stability andprosperity,” said Hue.

The Vietnamese top legislator suggested AIPA MemberParliaments complete the legal framework and remove barriers to facilitate theimplementation of digital transformation policies, with a view to building thee-Government towards a digital government.

It is also necessary to improve the quality of online publicservices of Governments and Parliaments, facilitate equitable access to digitalservices for the people and businesses, increase digital literacy for thevulnerable groups, offer fair, equitable and affordable digital services, andpromote the development of a digital economy and society.

He proposed encouraging the Governments of ASEAN members to carry out concreteprogrammes, action plans and strategies pertaining to digital development;mobilising social resources to develop a digital ecosystem via public - privatepartnership and create incubators to develop digital corporations andstart-ups; and improving policies and legal frameworks and support initiativesin the cooperation within ASEAN and between ASEAN and its partners on cybersecurity, information privacy, data protection and confidence building in thedigital sphere.

All efforts to foster national recovery and development canonly be conducted in a region of peace, security and stability, Hue emphasized. He welcomed and highly appreciated the endeavours of the Governments of ASEANmembers, and the active support of AIPA Member Parliaments in maintaining andpromoting dialogue, cooperation and confidence building, upholding the respectfor international law, contributing to maintaining peace, security, cooperation and sustainable stability in the region, including the East Sea, in accordance with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) without taking action to complicate the situation, while implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and pushing ahead with negotiations on a Code of Conduct (COC) for the East Sea.

He told participants that despite numerous challenges causedby COVID-19, in May, Vietnam successfully held the elections for the 15thNational Assembly, and the People’s Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026tenure. In July, Vietnam successfully convened the first session of the 15thNational Assembly to elect the key leaderships of the State, National Assemblyand Government, and outline the goals to become a modernity-orientedindustrialized developing country, having graduated from the lower-middleincome group by 2025, a developing country with a modern industrial base and anupper-middle income by 2030, and a developed, high-income country by 2045.

The Vietnamese National Assembly pledges to continue being anactive and responsible AIPA member, for the development of parliamentarydiplomacy and the interests of all people in ASEAN, he affirmed./.