CLOSING OF THE 9TH GLOBAL YOUNG PARLIAMENTARIES CONFERENCE: ACHIEVEMENT OF COMMON AWARENESS ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND THE PIONEER ROLE OF YOUNG PARLIAMENTARIES

INTERNATIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE 9TH GLOBAL YOUNG PARLIAMENTARIES' CONFERENCE: IPU IS DEEPLY IMPRESSED BY VIETNAM'S ORGANIZATIONAL WORK

The responsibility placed on the shoulders of young parliamentarians is enormous.

The 9th Global Meeting of Young Parliamentarians in Vietnam marks the 8th anniversary of the Hanoi Declaration on the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and sets out the commitment of parliamentarians to address global priorities. As the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) has reached its halfway point, this is a crucial and decisive moment.

According to the assessment, there are less than 7 years left to achieve the SDGs, but 50% of the sustainable development goals are still behind schedule. This requires the Parliaments of the IPU to act more decisively to achieve the goals of education, gender equality, employment, economic growth, climate action, peace, justice and institutions by 2030. This requires the Parliaments of the countries to join hands to act faster, more creatively and more urgently to implement the common agenda that all countries have agreed. In that context, the responsibility and expectation on young parliamentarians is very great, in promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through digital transformation and innovation. With that historic mission, the conference attracted a large number of parliamentarians from countries in the IPU to contribute to the agenda with very topical and urgent discussion topics.

As key innovators, technology users and technology enablers, young people are in a key position to put digital transformation and innovation at the heart of action to accelerate progress on the SDGs and leave no one behind. Young people today are already taking on key roles in the private sector, such as CEOs of technology companies and innovative startups, or investors in the digital transformation space. And the same can be said of young people in politics.

With the mission of being future leaders, young parliamentarians have found many ways to solve complex problems in the context of digital transformation, bringing their will and aspirations to the parliament to promote new solutions for the benefit of all humanity, through startups, developing new technologies and exploiting Artificial Intelligence (AI), in line with the IPU campaign “I support youth participation in Parliament”, calling on parliamentarians and political leaders to take transformative action to attract more young people to participate in politics.

In that context, according to the assessment of the young parliamentarians, the Conference was successful in many aspects, in which it demonstrated the strategic importance of digital tools in parliamentary activities. These tools are considered to contribute to the process of legislation, supervision, decision-making on important issues in a more comprehensive, transparent manner and to enhance public participation. Real-time interaction channels can enable instantaneous interaction between voters and representatives. By creating positive conditions, digital transformation can empower citizens, especially young people, to actively participate in the political process and contribute to shaping policy decisions. By harnessing the power of technology and innovation in a changing world, it helps to maximize efficiency and minimize unwanted risks.

The young parliamentarians agreed that parliaments need to perfect the legal framework to regulate the approach to science and technology through digital transformation, solving all problems based on ethical and prudent factors to ensure privacy, security and happiness. At the same time, respect cultural diversity, considering it a strength for sustainable development, because it is an element that nurtures creativity and innovation.

From there, the Joint Statement at the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians was issued, affirming the participation of young parliamentarians, young people and the promotion of the implementation of the SDGs, through the IPU and international and regional inter-parliamentary mechanisms, ready to become companions carrying the mission of exploiting the power of technology and innovation to serve the SDGs, in a responsible manner and leaving no one behind, on the basis of respecting the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. The young parliamentarians affirmed their commitment to stand together to keep the promise in the Hanoi Declaration 2015 and respond to the urgent call of the 2030 Agenda.

As the message of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue emphasized: "In the era of the 4.0 industrial revolution, the future is not simply an extension of the past. Developed countries can also return to the starting point. That is the opportunity and also the premise for us to cooperate".

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that the IPU Young Parliamentarians Forum is very necessary and useful 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 world in participating in implementing the goals and tasks of the IPU and the United Nations. From there, he called on IPU 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.

Affirming the commitment and actions of young parliamentarians and the IPU, accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals

In his closing speech, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue emphasized that 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 the political will and aspirations of the people, between domestic law and international law, between people of nations and ethnic groups, contributing to peace, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development at the regional and global levels.

Vietnam's consistent policy is to promote 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. Vietnam attaches great importance to and actively and responsibly participates in multilateral institutions of which Vietnam is a member.

In that spirit, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed his stance that he will continue to actively cooperate with the IPU and join hands with member parliaments to realize the goals and resolutions of the IPU in general and of the Declaration of this Global Meeting of Young Parliamentarians, constantly promoting noble missions and elevating 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.

IPU President Duarte Pacheco highly appreciated the commitment of the Vietnamese National Assembly, its full and responsible participation and its substantial and effective contributions to the IPU agenda, demonstrating that Vietnam clearly understands what it wants to do and what it wants to contribute to the world and the region. Right from the Hanoi Declaration nearly a decade ago, the Vietnamese National Assembly has demonstrated its responsibility by agreeing with member parliaments to commit to action and accompany the United Nations in implementing the SDGs. This conference once again demonstrates that spirit and commitment of the Vietnamese National Assembly.

Vietnam, like many other countries, is well aware of the need to pay real attention and invest in environmental protection. In the process of achieving the SDGs, digital transformation, technology and innovation are extremely important factors. Any SDGs goal requires factors such as hunger eradication, poverty reduction, education, healthcare and climate change mitigation. Young parliamentarians are very familiar with today's digital world. Therefore, the things that young parliamentarians discussed at the Conference, such as what we have done, what we will do, what needs to change, how to innovate so that parliaments can bring real participation of young people in political activities and in parliaments... are all practical and meaningful results for the SDGs.

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong highly appreciated the hospitality, hospitality, and warm welcome of the country and people of Vietnam in general and the Vietnamese National Assembly in particular. With the commitment to "turn words into action", IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong will monitor and urge the recommendations made at this conference, affirming that in his position, he will take advantage of the existing mechanisms of the IPU to promote and empower young people to participate more in innovation and creativity.