Vietnam joins global parliamentary secretaries’ body for first time

THE HANOI TIMES — Deputy Chief of Vietnam's National Assembly Office Le Thu Ha was elected to the Executive Committee of the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP) for the 2025–2028 term with the highest number of votes among all candidates.

The vote took place during the ASGP conference held alongside the 151st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-151) in Geneva, Switzerland on October 21.

For the first time, Vietnam’s National Assembly has a representative elected to the ASGP leadership, marking an important milestone in its proactive and active integration into the global parliamentary community.

The result reflects the international recognition and trust that parliaments around the world place in Vietnam’s National Assembly, acknowledging its responsible and effective contributions to multilateral parliamentary cooperation in recent years.

Established in 1939 in Oslo, Norway, ASGP brings together over 300 members representing 183 parliaments affiliated with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

It serves as a specialized platform for cooperation on parliamentary organization, management and professional affairs.

Within this forum, members exchange information, share experiences and present academic research to enhance legislative performance. The association also works to strengthen advisory and support capacities for parliamentarians and to promote a modern, transparent and citizen-oriented parliamentary model.

Vietnam’s National Assembly Office became a full member of ASGP in 2001 during the 105th IPU Assembly in Cuba. Over the past two decades, Vietnam has been an active and responsible member, contributing experience in developing e-parliaments, promoting digital transformation, modernizing parliamentary information and library systems and advancing administrative reforms.

These efforts have deepened cooperation between Vietnam’s National Assembly and other parliaments and international parliamentary organizations, reinforcing the image of a modern, innovative and globally engaged legislature.

Speaking in Geneva, Deputy Chief of the National Assembly Office Le Thu Ha said: “During more than three decades working with the National Assembly of Vietnam, I have witnessed how parliaments can turn global challenges into opportunities for progress. The successful organization of the 132nd IPU Assembly in Hanoi in 2015, which welcomed representatives from over 160 member parliaments, reaffirmed our belief that parliamentary secretariats are a driving force for innovation and transformation within modern legislatures.”

Ha added that in today’s context, a parliamentary secretary-general is not only an administrator but also a connector of knowledge who fosters innovation and ensures the legitimacy and democratic foundation of the parliament.

“ASGP plays a vital role in spreading best practices, sharing lessons and encouraging reform, enabling parliamentary secretariats worldwide to better serve legislative work and deliver tangible benefits to the people,” she noted.

At the conference, Vietnam proposed three strategic directions for ASGP in the coming years to enhance the effectiveness of parliamentary secretariats in the digital era: (i) advancing digital and green parliaments to create institutions that are safer, more sustainable and environmentally friendly while staying closer to citizens; (ii) enhancing transparency and professionalism in parliamentary administration to improve efficiency and accountability; (iii) and promoting inclusive democracy by expanding public participation, advancing gender equality and strengthening parliaments’ ability to address emerging challenges such as climate change, artificial intelligence and quantum technology.

Alongside these directions, Vietnam put forward three practical action priorities: sharing experiences in parliamentary governance to turn diverse practices into shared innovation; building stronger inter-regional cooperation networks to promote faster and more effective collaboration among member parliaments; and improving training programs for parliamentary staff, particularly in developing parliaments, to strengthen professionalism and promote modern, transparent and accountable parliamentary administration.

Ha affirmed that with its ongoing efforts to modernize and enhance transparency, Vietnam’s National Assembly seeks to bring to ASGP the perspective and voice of a legislature that is dynamic, inclusive and reform-minded, one that actively contributes to improving parliamentary effectiveness and advancing multilateral cooperation for sustainable and democratic development.

“Strengthening ASGP means strengthening parliaments, and strengthening parliaments means strengthening democracy,” she said.

Vietnam’s election to the ASGP Executive Committee for the 2025–2028 term represents an important achievement in parliamentary diplomacy, underscoring the country’s growing prestige in the global parliamentary community.

It also concretizes the implementation of the Politburo’s Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW on international integration in the new context, reaffirming Vietnam’s commitment to proactive, responsible and constructive engagement in global parliamentary reform for sustainable, inclusive development that serves the people.