Hanoi (VNA) – The fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliamentadopted the Declaration on Parliamentaryleadership for more effective multilateralism that delivers peace andsustainable develo♌pment for the people and world at its closing ceremony onAugust 20 after two days of sitting.

Thevirtual meeting was co-organised by the Inter-ParliamentaryUnion (IPU), the United Nations and the Austrian Parliament from August19-20. Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National AssemblyNguyen Thi Kim Ngan sent a video message to the event, featuring the Vietnameselegislature’s participation in regional and world inter-parliamentarymechanisms, helping to strengthen peace, cooperation and fulfilling sustainabledevelopment goals. At the opening ceremony on August 19,Ngan delivered a speechon “Stepping up parliamentary action: climate change urgency”.  In the Declaration, leaders of parliament and the IPU President affirmed that theywill always stand side by side with parliamentarians and people in thishistoric time as the world is faceing the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that thispandemic is a borderless crisis with its impacts felt at all levels. The speakersof parliament emphasised that the global challenges require global solutions,in which strengthening multilateralism and international solidarity is moreimportant than ever. Theyaffirmed their belief in and support of the purposes and principles set out inthe United Nations Charter and believed that the role of the United Nations isincreasingly necessary as the cornerstone of strong and effective globalactions. Theyear 2020 marks the start of the Decade of Action on Sustainable DevelopmentGoals, so the speakers of parliament called on nations around the world to takebold steps to bring this agenda into reality. The speakersalso committed to duplicating their efforts to help achieve these goals fullyand effectively through parliamentary activities. Theyhighlighted the need to prevent economies from falling into recession and affirmedthe importance of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and ParisAgreement. They also called on countries and the international community to protectgender equality in all forms on the occasion of the 25th anniversaryof the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action for Gender Equality. TheDeclaration also mentioned peace and international security issues, respect forlaws and international agreements in various fields, and cooperation betweenthe IPU and the UN. On theoccasion of International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism (August 21), a special event was also held todiscuss what can be done to provide support to terrorism victims./.