National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue speaks at the closing session. (Photo: TC)

Attending the closing ceremony of the Conference, on the Vietnamese side were National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, Permanent Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong, Head of the Central External Relations Commission Le Hoai Trung, Chairman of the Group of Young Vietnamese National Assembly Deputies Nguyen Anh Tuan and delegates and representatives of relevant agencies.

On the international side, there were President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Duarte Pacheco, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Martin Chungong, President of the IPU Young Parliamentarians' Forum, UK Congressman Dan Carden, and President of the IPU Women Parliamentarians' Forum Cynthia Lopez Castro.

The closing session was chaired by Ms. Dyah Roro Esti, Member of the Indonesian Parliamentarians' Council, member of the IPU Young Parliamentarians' Forum. After summarizing the 3 Discussion Sessions, the Conference listened to the presentation and adopted the Conference Declaration on "The role of youth in promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through digital transformation and innovation".

After listening to the reports of the thematic discussion sessions, two reporters of the entire Conference will share with the delegates the Conference's statement. Chairman of the Young Parliamentarians Forum Dan Carden and Ms. Ha Anh Phuong, Member of the National Assembly of Vietnam, announced the Conference's statement.

Speaking here, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed that after two days of working enthusiastically, urgently, friendly, united and with a high sense of responsibility, the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians had completed the entire official agenda and was a great success.

The conference adopted the Declaration on “The role of youth in promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through digital transformation and innovation”. This is the first Declaration of the Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in 9 editions. This demonstrates the determination, high consensus and strong commitment of young IPU parliamentarians in promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals on a global scale.

The opening, closing and thematic discussions were attended by a large number of senior leaders of Vietnam and IPU, Ambassadors, representatives of diplomatic agencies, international organizations and hundreds of young parliamentarians from IPU member parliaments across the continents. The discussions recorded hundreds of comments, exchanges, experience sharing and valuable recommendations on the Conference's theme. Through the discussions, we have reached common understandings and promoted international cooperation, multilateralism, the basic principles of the United Nations and international law in accelerating the implementation of the SDGs.

Closing of the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue emphasized that the success of the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians shows that the IPU Young Parliamentarians Forum is a very necessary and useful forum for young parliamentarians and continues to affirm the importance of young parliamentarians in particular and young people in general as future owners of each country, nation and the whole world in participating in implementing the goals and tasks of the IPU and the United Nations.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue respectfully requested the IPU Secretariat and IPU member parliaments to disseminate the results of this Conference to the United Nations Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals, which will take place from September 18-19, 2023 in New York. Thereby honoring the role, affirming the commitment and actions of the IPU and young parliamentarians in particular in the common global effort to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue also requested the IPU and called on member parliaments to actively implement the Conference Declaration; at the same time, establish appropriate mechanisms for cooperation and mutual support, especially between developed and developing countries in digital transformation and innovation.

In every stage of development of nations, the National Assembly and parliamentarians, with their noble legislative, supervisory and enforcement roles, have always been the vanguard in efforts to reform laws, institutions and international integration, and are the bridge between political will and people's aspirations, between domestic law and international law, between people of nations and ethnicities, contributing to peace, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development at the regional and global levels.

Affirming Vietnam's consistent policy of promoting a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, multilateralization, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, based on the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that Vietnam attaches great importance to and actively and responsibly participates in multilateral institutions of which Vietnam is a member.

In that spirit, the Vietnamese National Assembly will continue to actively cooperate with the IPU and member parliaments to join hands to realize the goals and resolutions of the IPU in general and of the Conference of Young Parliamentarians in particular, to continuously promote noble missions and elevate parliamentary diplomacy.

The Vietnamese National Assembly affirmed that it will continue to actively contribute to the common activities of the IPU and is ready to host more conferences and other mechanisms within the framework of the IPU's activities.

President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Duarte Pacheco. (Photo: TC)

Mr. Duarte Pacheco, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union expressed five words of gratitude to the President of the National Assembly, the Conference Organizing Committee, the speakers, the interpreters and all the participants. His words of gratitude acknowledged the thoughtful, positive and respectful reception given to the delegations. The IPU President also thanked the delegates, each individual from many countries, who brought many profound opinions, conveyed strong inspirations, and contributed to the overall success of the Conference.

According to him, the world is facing many challenges in achieving the sustainable development goals. He said: "In the next 7 years, we have a lot to do to ensure sustainable development for all humanity. We need to be determined to implement the commitments, young parliamentarians need to become leaders, not just politicians".

The young generation needs to create change, promote science and innovation, devote more resources to technology, improve digital literacy, and respond appropriately to protect the environment and adapt to climate change. The IPU, its members, and the IPU Secretariat always support and create favorable conditions for young parliamentarians to act. Therefore, the young generation needs to act strongly, not give up, race against time, work hard, and coordinate closely to resolutely implement what has been committed, and create proud results.

According to the program, after the main contents of the Conference are completed, delegates will attend the Art Performance Program at the National Convention Center on the afternoon of September 16, and visit Ha Long Bay on September 17, to learn more about the country, people and culture of Vietnam.

After the Closing Ceremony, there was a Press Conference to announce the results of the Conference, co-chaired by President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Duarte Pacheco; Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Martin Chungong; Chairman of the IPU Young Parliamentarians' Forum, Member of the House of Representatives, United Kingdom Dan Carden; Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee, Deputy Head of the Conference Organizing Committee Vu Hai Ha; Chairman of the Group of Young National Assembly Deputies of the 15th National Assembly, Head of the Conference Organizing Committee Nguyen Anh Tuan; Deputy Head of the National Assembly Office, Assistant to the National Assembly Chairman, Head of the Information and Propaganda Subcommittee Pham Thai Ha.