AIPA Roadshow in Hanoi empowers regional young voices

THE HANOI TIMES — Young leaders from across ASEAN took center stage in Hanoi on August 25, calling for stronger regional cooperation and greater youth participation through parliamentary diplomacy.

Gathered at the AIPA Roadshow, parliamentarians, youth leaders and students voiced their vision for ASEAN’s future, highlighting the role of young people in driving innovation, digital transformation and sustainable growth.

In his opening remarks, Nguyen Anh Tuan, Chairman of the Young National Assembly Deputies Group, stressed the centrality of youth in regional agendas.

Young people make up nearly one-third of ASEAN’s population with 220 million individuals who are full of energy and creativity, and seen as a decisive factor in the region’s socio-economic development and resilience.

Therefore, ASEAN must remain dynamic, resilient and people-centered, with parliamentary diplomacy providing the engine for cooperation.

“ASEAN cooperation is the foundation and AIPA cooperation is the driving force,” he said.

Tuan encouraged young people to embrace innovation, digital transformation and green development while preserving their cultural identity.

By nurturing aspirations for prosperity and engaging with science and technology, youth can contribute to the shared future of ASEAN, he added.

“The event demonstrates the shared aspiration among ASEAN youth, and reaffirms their role in building a united, innovative and sustainable ASEAN Community,” he stressed.

The importance of youth was also highlighted by Nguyen Tuong Lam, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

Lam pointed out that in Vietnam, the ongoing national transformation requires youth to act as pioneers.

Youth must be innovative, responsible and forward-looking to contribute ideas and take active roles in public life and global integration, the secretary said.

He expected that through open dialogue, young people would deepen their understanding of ASEAN’s parliamentary processes and be inspired to lead.

The international perspective came from AIPA Secretary General Siti Rozaimeriyanty Dato Haji Abdul Rahman, who praised Vietnam’s efforts to empower youth through regional and global platforms.

She recalled the Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians hosted by Vietnam in 2023 as an important milestone.

“That conference was a shining example of how young parliamentarians can be given a platform. It ensured that the voices of the younger generation were heard in global decision-making.”

She said that empowering young legislators is critical in addressing today’s complex challenges. 

“Young leaders must be given the tools and the voice to guide ASEAN into the future,” she said.

Vietnam’s contributions to regional agendas

The Hanoi Roadshow carried special significance both for Vietnam and for AIPA’s long-term agenda.

For Vietnam, hosting the program demonstrated its proactive role in parliamentary diplomacy and its commitment to engaging citizens, especially youth, in ASEAN cooperation.

Tuan from the Young National Assembly Deputies Group said that the roadshow embodies the spirit of General Secretary To Lam’s message to AIPA-45 in Laos last year, which emphasized resilience, innovation and people-centered cooperation.

By providing a platform for exchanges between parliamentarians and students, the event helped strengthen the link between national institutions and society, according to him.

It also highlighted how parliamentary diplomacy can go beyond legislative chambers to directly connect with citizens, particularly the younger generation.

For AIPA, the roadshow in Vietnam showed how regional initiatives can be localized to inspire and empower youth.

Through panel discussions, cultural exchanges, and interactive dialogue, the program encouraged students to see themselves as active contributors to ASEAN’s future.

The presence of both parliamentary leaders and youth representatives highlighted the role of parliamentary diplomacy in decision-making, inclusiveness, and participation.

For the young participants, they gained a practical understanding of how ASEAN cooperation works, why it matters, and how they can play a role. Many expressed enthusiasm for being able to directly engage with national and regional leaders.

The country’s emphasis on science, technology, digital transformation, and sustainable growth was echoed in the speeches and exchanges throughout the event.

By linking these priorities to ASEAN’s collective agenda, Vietnam demonstrated how domestic development goals can complement regional cooperation.

Additionally, the event bridges lawmakers with young citizens and spreading the message of cooperation and unity, as empowering young voices is essential to guiding ASEAN through change.

During the AIPA Roadshow in Hanoi, Chairman of Vietnam’s National Assembly Tran Thanh Man on August 25 welcomed AIPA Secretary General Siti Rozaimeriyanty Dato Haji Abdul Rahman. He affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and working with member parliaments to build trust and promote sustainable development in ASEAN. The AIPA Secretary General praised Vietnam’s consistent contributions, especially in empowering young parliamentarians and fostering people-centered cooperation. She highlighted the Hanoi Roadshow and the 2023 Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians as milestones that added fresh momentum to AIPA’s agenda.