Vietnam’s top legislator attends 46th AIPA General Assembly in Malaysia

THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam’s National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man today (September 17) attended the Executive Committee Meeting of the 46th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-46) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The meeting gathered heads of delegations from ASEAN member legislatures to discuss the agenda and procedural issues of the annual inter-parliamentary forum.

Joining Chairman Man were Senior Lieutenant General Le Tan Toi, Chairman of the NA’s Committee for National Defense, Security and Foreign Affairs and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Anh Tuan.

The Vietnamese delegation’s participation at AIPA-46 demonstrates the country’s consistent policy of strengthening cooperation with ASEAN parliaments, contributing to the building of a united, resilient and people-centered ASEAN Community.

Bilateral meetings on the sidelines of AIPA-46

On the same day, Chairman Man held bilateral meetings with President of Cambodia’s National Assembly Khuon Sudary and President of the National Parliament of Timor-Leste Maria Fernanda Lay.

At the meeting with his Cambodian counterpart, the Vietnamese NA Chairman conveyed greetings from General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to King Norodom Sihamoni, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk and Cambodia’s senior leaders.

He thanked the Cambodian People’s Party and Senate President Hun Sen for leading a high-level delegation to Vietnam’s 80th August Revolution and National Day celebrations, including Cambodian armed forces in the parade – an illustration of the two countries’ traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation.

Both sides praised the strong growth of bilateral trade, which has reached US$7 billion so far this year, up 16.3% year-on-year. They agreed to strengthen political trust, legislative exchanges and youth cooperation and enhace transport links, border trade and tourism.

The two legislative officials also reaffirmed close coordination at regional and multilateral parliamentary forums to uphold ASEAN’s centrality and contribute to peace and stability.

Meeting with Timor-Leste’s parliamentary leader, Chairman Man congratulated the country on becoming ASEAN’s 11th member at the October 2025 ASEAN Summit.

He pledged support and experience-sharing for Timor-Leste’s ASEAN integration and called for more high-level exchanges.

President Lay thanked Vietnam for its consistent backing since Timor-Leste’s observer status and noted her parliament’s ratification of a diplomatic visa waiver.

She urged Vietnam to open an embassy in Dili and lauded the country's help with food security.

The two sides discussed expediting the first meeting of the Vietnam–Timor-Leste Joint Commission on Economic and Technical Cooperation and finalizing agreements in education, rice trade, consular affairs, clean energy and tourism.

Both leaders underlined the importance of deepening inter-parliamentary cooperation, exchanging legislative experience, monitoring the implementation of signed agreements to promote comprehensive bilateral ties and coordinating at regional and international forums to strengthen ASEAN unity and centrality.