Pursuant to the consent of the Communist Party Politburo and the support of the Member Parliaments of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the National Assembly of Vietnam (NA) will host 9^th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians (the Conference) from September 14^th - 17^th, 2023 in Hanoi with the theme: "The role of the youth in accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through digital transformation and innovations". This is an important foreign affairs event; a practical activity to implement the foreign policy of 13^th Communist Party Congress; and promote the bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the Vietnamese Parliamentarians, the young people and the young parliamentarians and delegates - the future generation of leaderships of other countries.

Reporter: What do you comment on the significance of the event to our country?

The Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son – the Standing Member of the NA Culture and Education Committee: I consider that the Conference to be held in Vietnam has an important significance for both the NA and for the nation. Hosting the international event such as the Conference will help the country to strengthen its position and reputation in the international stage. This event is interested by the participating countries and the international public, thereby delivering an opportunity to promote the image of the country, culture and people of Vietnam. Organizing the Conference in Hanoi will bring about benefits and significance to the country that will support the international partnerships, contributing to strengthening the position and enabling the  development of the country.

The Conference will be a platform for the participations of the young parliamentarians from several countries around the world; as an opportunity for the young Vietnamese parliamentarians to exchange experiences and learn from the young parliamentarians of other countries. Such meetings and exchanges with those who have broad views and experiences will help enhance the position; share knowledge; and get understandings of the young Vietnamese parliamentarians.

Furthermore, the Conference will be a platform for the young parliamentarians around the world to discuss and propose the solutions to important issues that influence the world. This event hosted by Vietnam will be expected to have the Hanoi Declaration that propose the recommendations and views of Vietnam on the international issues, contributing to enhancing its role and voice in the international stage.

In addition, the organization of such an important international conference will also motivate and inspire the young Vietnamese parliamentarians who will meet, learn and exchange with the successful young parliamentarians from other countries; and the young Vietnamese parliamentarians will have opportunity to attain experience and supports to actively contribute to the law making and the national construction. 

Reporter: In the current context, what are advantages and challenges to the first time hosting such an important event? 

Dr. Bui Hoai Son: Vietnam and the whole world experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. The world situation is currently very complicated that's why we need to organize international events and forums with aims to motivate the sense of more solidarity and go through difficulties together. The Conference aims at this point. 

The Conference will be also a great opportunity for Vietnam to demonstrate its cultural identity and promote the international cooperation and exchanges. In order to make the Conference successful, Vietnam needs to take advantages, properly evaluate the challenges and prepare carefully for the Conference opens. 

We have the advantage of the supports of the Party and State leaders and the IPU. The NA President presided several meetings with relevant agencies to implement this activity early. The support of the IPU and the member parliaments in proactively proposing the topics and actively participating in the Conference shows the optimistic signs for the success of the event. Additionally, although this is the first time hosting the Conference, we have a lot of experiences in organizing the important events, including the events organized by the NA.

For the time being, in 2023, Vietnam is undergoing the preparations work for the first time hosting the Conference that include advantages and challenges. I would like to mention the advantages and challenges; as well as ways how our country prepare to for the success of the Conference: 

We also face with certain challenges. For an international event, the effective communications and the respects for culture of countries are critical. We need to pay attention to every single activity of the foreign affairs culture and the training to those who will serve the Conference to ensure the appropriate communication and demonstrate respectful behaviors to the cultural diversity of delegates. Additionally, other factors such as infrastructure, especially the transportation infrastructure, hotels, accommodations, internet connection and so on; and/or the best security condition for the safety of the large number of participants which are important factors that need to be taken into account. 

As I mentioned, we have carefully prepared for the Conference, from detailed plans, the event schedules, the infrastructure, the security to other supplementary activities. In addition, the organizations and agencies also actively worked with the international organizations, especially the IPU, the foreign representative agencies in Vietnam and the Parliaments of the participating countries to agree on the consensus and support to the Conference. Besides, we need to make sure all the staffs and the volunteers are all well trained and have sufficient knowledge to meet the requirements of the Conference; as well as the media campaigns to make the event more popular and appealing to the international delegates.

Reporter: Thank you very much indeed./.