Nur Sultan (VNA) – Permanent Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly (NA) Tong ThiPhong has affirmed the role of multilateral cooperation in Eurasia and theworld in the context of rapid and complicated global developments.

At the 4th Meeting of Speakers of EurasianCountries’ Parliaments (MSEAP 4) in Nur Sultan, the capital city of Kazakhstan,on September 24, Phong stressed the meeting’s theme “Greater Eurasia: Dialogue,Trust, Partnership” and highlightedVietnam's proactive and active internationalintegration policy.

The official proposed to increase the buildingof trust, mutual understanding and respect, and promote co-operation, dialogueand exchange of experience in the field of parliament.

She also tabled the ideaof promoting regional,inter-regional and global multilateral co-operation in economy, trade,technology transfer, and called for attention to cultural exchanges in Asia andEurope, building a culture of dialogue for peace, tolerance and harmony amongcountries.

The MSEAP 4 brought together 65 parliamentarydelegations from European and Asian countries and 14 international andinter-parliamentary organisations. At the MSEAP 4, parliamentarians discussedways of ensuring safe and sustainable development of the Eurasian continent andthe implementation of major economic integration projects in the 21st century.

In addition to plenary sessions, dozens ofbilateral meetings were held on the sidelines of the event, enablingparliamentarians to exchange law-making experience and co-ordinate efforts andactions towards increasing the wellbeing of their peoples.

Following the opening ceremony in the morning,participants attended three plenary sessions and adopted a joint statement inthe afternoon.

The statement affirms the important role of theparliaments of Asian and European countries in maintaining regional integrationactivities to ensure comprehensive partnerships on the basis of respect forequality and mutual benefits. The formation of constructive co-operationrelationships among Asian and European countries can create a great impetus todevelop common space and promote regional economic growth, it says.

The statement emphasises strengtheninginter-parliamentary cooperation to deal with common challenges, includingterrorism, ensure network security, combat the use of information andcommunication technology and new technologies in order to destabilize security,use the internet to spread terrorist and extremist ideas. It also calls fordialogue to ensure the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and activelyco-ordinate on the issue of disarmament.

MSEAP is a Eurasian parliamentary co-operationmechanism initiated by the Chairman of the State Duma of Russia and the Speakerof the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. It was first held in Russiain 2016. The next meeting will be held in Bali, Indonesia in 2020.

Earlier in the day, Phong metwith the Republic of Korea (RoK) National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee Sang on thesidelines of the MSEAP 4.

She lauded the initiative bythe parliaments of Russia and the RoK in strengthening coordination oflegislative bodies in Asia and Europe as well as the role of parliamentarydiplomacy, and highlighted that Vietnamese NA supports the strategicpartnership between the two countries.

Currently, about 170,000Korean are living in Vietnam and 200,000 Vietnamese in the RoK, including about65,000 Vietnamese brides.

The NA Vice Chairwomanthanked the RoK for supporting the Vietnamese community in the country, affirmedthat Vietnam welcomes the New Southern Policy of the RoK and spoke highly of theRoK’s stance on the East Sea issue. She also proposed that the RoK continuesupporting the viewpoint of the ASEAN and Vietnam in maintaining peace,stability and settling disputes in the East Sea through peaceful measures inline with international law and the full implementation of the Declaration onthe Conduct of Party in the East Sea (DOC) and soon reaching a Code of Conductin the East Sea.

In 2020, Vietnam will takethe role of a non-permanent United Nations Security Council, the ASEAN andAIPA-41 Chair. Vietnam hopes for support from the Government and NA of the RoKduring the performance of the roles, Phong said.

For his part, Moon showed hisdelight at the growth of the RoK-Vietnam relations with strong mutual trust andexpanded partnership in all fields. Vietnam is a favourite destination forKorean tourists, he noted, stressing that the countryalso has a special position in the RoK’s New Southern Policy./.