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132nd IPU Assembly discusses sustainable development goals for post-2015

Xinhua, March 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

The general debate of the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) began on Sunday in Vietnam's capital Hanoi with focus on discussion of sustainable development goals (SDGs) for post-2015 period.

At the debate, Nguyen Sinh Hung, chairman of Vietnam's National Assembly was announced by IPU President Saber Chowdhury as chairman of the IPU-132.

Speaking at the debate, Hung said 2015 is an important year to international community with the expiring of the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) and the approval of a new development agenda for the next period.

Under the theme "Sustainable Development Goals: Turning Words into Action", Hung proposed participants to focus on issues of the roles and missions of parliamentary organizations in reaching SDGs in the next 15 years.

Tong Thi Phong, head of the Vietnamese delegation, said at the debate that despite the achievements, many MDGs were left unfulfilled with the existence of hunger and gender inequality.

Phong said it requires joint efforts of countries, international organizations and individuals around the world to make the development "really sustainable".

Phong proposed the member parliaments to consider the sustainable development in areas of economic growth, environmental protection and social equality.

Vietnam agrees with the content of 17 SDGs drafted by the United Nations (UN), especially those on hunger and poverty elimination, narrowing the development gap, energy security, and climate change, among others, Phong said.

According to Amina Mohammed, special adviser of the UN Secretary General, it is necessary to have a global solution which benefits every people in the world. The international community needs to join hands in order to fulfill the SDGs.

Sharing about the 17 SDGs, Amina Mohammed said parliamentary organizations have responsibilities in mobilizing resources for achieving the SDGs, supervising the process of applying SDGs, changing the attitude of the community over sustainable development issues among others.

Commenting on Amina Mohammed's speech, IPU President Chowdhury spoke highly of the participation of IPU in UN's issues, saying a declaration of IPU-132, if adopted during the five-day assembly in Hanoi, will be submitted as an official document to the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015.

The general debate of IPU-132 will last till Tuesday.

The IPU is the international organization of Parliaments. Established in 1889 on the initiative of two parliamentarians and men of peace, William Randal Cremer (United Kingdom) and Frederic Passy (France), the Inter-Parliamentary Union was the first permanent forum for political multilateral negotiations. There are currently 166 members and 10 associate members of the Inter- Parliamentary Union.

Over 1,300 delegates from members and associate members of IPU join the IPU-132 and related meetings in Vietnam, which last from Saturday to next Wednesday. Endi