Reporter: The 9th Global Young Parliamentarians' Conference is scheduled to take place from September 14 to 18 in Hanoi. This is the first time the Vietnamese National Assembly has hosted the Global Young Parliamentarians' Conference. How do you assess the significance and importance of holding this Conference in the context of the world and regional situation having strong changes in politics, economy and society?

Delegate Dinh Thi Phuong Lan - Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Ethnic Council, Vice Chairwoman of the Group of Young National Assembly Deputies, XVth tenure: The recent international context shows that the development goals of many countries have been and are being affected in many different aspects, requiring each country to soon make appropriate assessments and adjustments to maintain its development goals in a faster and more sustainable direction. Since the beginning of 2020, the world has experienced many rapid and unprecedented changes.

However, peace, cooperation, association and development are still the major trends. Sustainable development, sharing and cooperation based on innovation have become the overarching trend in the world. Digital transformation, digital economy, circular economy and green growth are the development models chosen by many countries; the shift to renewable energy and green energy is an important shift in many countries. Science, technology and innovation are evolving very quickly, with profound, broad and multi-dimensional impacts on a global scale, increasingly becoming a decisive factor in each country's competitiveness.

Following the successful hosting of the 132nd IPU General Assembly (2015), the 26th APPF (2016) and the 41st AIPA General Assembly (2020), the hosting of the 9th Global Young Parliamentarians' Conference continues to affirm Vietnam's active, responsible and proactive participation in the IPU - the World Inter-Parliamentary Organization, Vietnam's special attention to youth and global issues of young people today, and at the same time is an important and practical activity to implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, Resolution No. 34-NQ/TW of the Politburo on "Some major orientations and policies to implement the foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress", Directive No. 25-CT/TW of the Central Party Secretariat, 12th tenure on promoting and enhancing multilateral diplomacy to 2030 and the Vietnam Youth Development Strategy for the period 2021-2030.

The conference contributes to promoting Vietnam's interests through the parliamentary channel, meeting development requirements and trends in the new period, including digital transformation, innovation, and sustainable development. The conference is also a good opportunity for us to widely promote to international friends about Vietnam's culture, country, people, foreign policy, and achievements in socio-economic development; at the same time, it is an opportunity to gain the support of the Inter-Parliamentary Union - IPU, member parliaments for the cause of national construction, protection, and development.

Reporter: The conference has chosen the theme “The role of youth in promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through digital transformation and innovation”. From this theme, the conference will focus on discussing 3 main topics . Could delegates share more about their interest in the topics of the conference?

Delegate Dinh Thi Phuong Lan - Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Ethnic Council, Vice Chairwoman of the 15th National Assembly Young Deputies Group: The topics identified for discussion at the Conference are important contents, expected to make practical contributions to the development process of each country in the IPU, focusing on discussing three main topics.

The first topic discusses digital transformation: (i) Perfecting institutions and policies to promote digital transformation to enhance opportunities for sustainable economic development; (ii) Sharing experiences of parliaments in legislation, supervision and the role of young parliamentarians to promote digital transformation in the context of the 4th industrial revolution; (iii) Sharing progress in digitalizing parliamentary activities for sustainable development. At the same time, proposing policies and solutions, especially perfecting institutions to narrow the digital gap, ensuring equitable access to technology towards the goal of leaving no one behind in the digital environment and sustainable development.

With an extremely important role in the current context, as a new driving force for sustainable growth and development, the second topic will discuss innovation and startups: (i) Perfecting institutions and policies in promoting innovation and startups, including youth startups as a driving force for inclusive and sustainable development, including the food technology sector; (ii) Sharing experiences of parliaments in legislation, supervision and the role of young parliamentarians to promote innovation and startups; (iii) Exchanging and discussing the development of artificial intelligence contributing to promoting the process of achieving the SDGs; (iv) Proposing to parliaments policies and solutions on building and perfecting institutions and policies, minimizing risks related to artificial intelligence.

Cultural diversity is considered a resource for the development of the world today and in the future, but is facing many challenges, especially non-traditional challenges of a digital age and globalization, which significantly affect the sustainability of cultural heritage and ethnic cultures. Therefore, the third topic focuses on discussing the role of parliaments and young parliamentarians in promoting respect for cultural diversity in the context of technological transformation and globalization with the following contents: (i) Digital cooperation, minimizing the unwanted impacts of digital transformation on privacy and security; (ii) Promoting the role of culture in development policies at the national, regional and international levels; (iii) Commitment to protecting and promoting cultural diversity; creating a favorable environment and ecosystem for culture and cultural diversity; (iv) The role of culture and cultural diversity in sustainable development.

Reporter: As a National Assembly delegate and also Vice Chairman of the 15th National Assembly Young Delegates Group directly attending the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians, what do you expect from our National Assembly's organization of this Conference?

Delegate Dinh Thi Phuong Lan - Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Ethnic Council, Vice Chairwoman of the 15th National Assembly's Young Deputies Group: This is an extremely valuable opportunity for young delegates and parliamentarians to meet, exchange, share and learn from experiences. At the same time, this is also an opportunity to find a common voice, seek and build optimal solutions towards the goal of a world of sustainable development, peace, prosperity, happiness and a better, inclusive and no one is left behind.

I believe that with the sense of responsibility, proactiveness, and early and far-reaching efforts of the Vietnamese National Assembly, the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians will make a practical and important contribution to the overall success in implementing the foreign policy of the Party and State, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment in the cause of national construction, protection and development. Continue to affirm the role and responsibility, enhance the position of Vietnam in the international arena, contribute to strengthening the cooperative relations between Vietnam and other countries, expand and deepen parliamentary relations with other countries. In particular, strengthen the presence and voice of young National Assembly deputies and young parliamentarians of other countries in international, regional and world inter-parliamentary organizations.

Reporter: Thank you very much, delegates./.