Vietnamese NA Chairman Reaffirms Support for ASEAN Parliamentary Cooperation at AIPA-46
Kuala Lumpur, The Gulf Observer: National Assembly (NA) Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn on Thursday reaffirmed that the Vietnamese NA will continue to stand alongside the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in turning ASEAN’s vision and aspirations into reality.
Addressing the first plenary session of the 46th General Assembly of AIPA (AIPA-46) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Chairman Mẫn highlighted the readiness of the Vietnamese NA to share experiences, enhance dialogue, and strengthen cooperation at all levels to build an inclusive, sustainable, resilient, and people-centred ASEAN.
Held under the theme “Parliaments at the Forefront for an Inclusive Growth and Sustainable ASEAN”, the session underscored the pioneering role of regional legislatures in promoting equal development opportunities and shared prosperity.
Reviewing ASEAN’s nearly six decades of formation and development, Chairman Mẫn noted the bloc’s significant achievements in building a dynamic economic community, fostering connectivity, and raising its global profile. He stressed ASEAN’s central role in the regional cooperation architecture, bringing together diverse partners to advance peace, stability, and prosperity.
To further enhance parliamentary diplomacy amid complex regional and global developments, Chairman Mẫn proposed three priority areas for AIPA:
- Strengthening its role as a bridge to encourage contributions from all sectors of society to realise the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
- Leading in institutional and policy-building to translate regional commitments into practice, particularly in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
- Promoting solidarity and people-to-people exchanges, with a focus on culture, education, tourism, and inter-parliamentary dialogue.
He also called for ASEAN to continue expanding and deepening external relations to consolidate its central role in regional and global networks of cooperation. Welcoming observer parliaments and aspiring partners at the assembly, he reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to developing mutually beneficial relations with all countries to expand development opportunities, diversify markets, and address shared challenges.
As part of his official visit to Malaysia, Chairman Mẫn held a meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive progress in bilateral relations, underscored by the elevation of ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
They noted that bilateral trade between Việt Nam and Malaysia reached US$9.23 billion in the first seven months of 2025, an 8 percent year-on-year increase. Both sides pledged to strengthen political trust through high-level exchanges and to boost trade and investment towards the goal of US$18 billion in balanced two-way trade.
Cooperation will also be expanded in energy, oil and gas, science and technology, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, fisheries, the Halal industry, and joint participation in the ASEAN Power Grid. Chairman Mẫn further emphasised the importance of adopting an action programme to implement the Việt Nam–Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for 2025–2030 and promoting trilateral renewable energy cooperation with Singapore.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim thanked Việt Nam for its strong support for Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 and AIPA-46 Chairmanship. He also praised the close cooperation between the two countries’ legislatures and voiced confidence in the further strengthening of inter-parliamentary ties.
