Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: Wikipedia

On Tuesday morning, Vietnam’s National Assembly (NA) Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn, along with his wife Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nga and a high-level delegation, left Hà Nội to start an important international trip. This trip will include official visits to Senegal and Morocco in Africa, as well as Switzerland in Europe, where he will attend a major global meeting.

The NA Chairman is visiting Senegal and Morocco at the invitation of El Malick Ndiaye, who is the Speaker of the Senegalese National Assembly, and Rachid Talbi Alami, who is the Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives. He was also invited by Tulia Ackson, the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and Martin Chungong, the IPU Secretary-General, to join the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament held in Switzerland.

Who is Travelling with the Chairman?

Travelling with Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn are many important Vietnamese leaders. They include NA Vice Chairman Nguyễn Đức Hải, Deputy Prime Minister Lê Thành Long, NA General Secretary and Office Chairman Lê Quang Tùng, and other top officials. This strong delegation shows how serious Vietnam is about building strong relationships with these countries.

Why is This Trip Important?

This trip is very special for many reasons:

• It is Chairman Mẫn’s first working trip to Switzerland since he became the National Assembly Chairman.
• It is also his first official visit to Morocco and Senegal.
• For Morocco, it is the first time in six years that a top Vietnamese leader is visiting the country.
• For Senegal, this is the first official visit since Vietnam and Senegal established diplomatic relations in 1969.

Goals of the Visit

The main goals of this trip are:

• Strengthening Friendships:
• Vietnam wants to make its friendships with Senegal, Morocco, and Switzerland stronger and more meaningful. Good relations can help both sides grow together.
• Deepening Cooperation:
• Vietnam aims to increase cooperation with African and European countries in many areas such as trade, education, health, agriculture, and tourism. By working together, they can support each other’s development.
• Expanding Economic Partnerships:
• Vietnam wants to find new markets for its products and attract investment from these countries to create more jobs and grow its economy faster.
• Building Strong Parliamentary Ties:
• The visit will help Vietnam’s National Assembly learn from other countries’ experiences and also share its achievements. This builds mutual respect and a better understanding between parliaments.
• Mobilising International Support:
• Chairman Mẫn hopes to get more international support for Vietnam’s national development plans. This includes resources for improving infrastructure, education, and technology to make life better for Vietnamese people.
• Raising Vietnam’s Global Profile:
• The trip also shows the world that Vietnam is a peaceful, responsible, and active country. It wants to contribute positively to global peace and development.

The Conference in Switzerland

In Switzerland, Chairman Mẫn will attend the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). This is a very important event where leaders of parliaments from around the world meet to discuss global issues. They talk about peace, sustainable development, human rights, and how parliaments can help make the world better.

During this conference, Chairman Mẫn will share Vietnam’s views and experiences. He will talk about how Vietnam is working to improve people’s lives, reduce poverty, and protect the environment. He will also meet leaders of other countries to discuss future cooperation.

Vietnam’s Commitment to Multilateralism

This trip clearly shows that Vietnam is committed to multilateralism, which means working together with many countries and international organisations to solve global problems. It also shows that Vietnam is a responsible member of the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Vietnam believes that by supporting peace, fairness, and development, it can help build a better world. The country also wants to show that it follows policies of friendship, respect, and cooperation with all countries, big or small.

Benefits for Vietnamese People

This trip is not just about meetings and speeches. It is about creating real benefits for the people of Vietnam, such as:

• Better trade agreements to sell Vietnamese products abroad
• More foreign investment to build factories and create jobs
• Learning new technologies to improve industries and services
• Scholarships for students to study in good universities overseas
• Sharing knowledge to improve healthcare and education systems

Before leaving, Chairman Mẫn said that Vietnam will continue to work hard for peace and development. He promised to always protect Vietnam’s interests and raise the country’s position in the world. This working trip is a big step towards making Vietnam stronger, more respected, and more connected globally.

As Vietnam continues to grow, such visits by its leaders play a key role in building strong international relationships that will benefit every Vietnamese citizen in the coming years.