Chairman of National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung addressing at the closing ceremony of the IPU-132 (Photo: VNA)

The 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) Assembly adopted the Hanoi Declaration at the end of the five-day gathering that wrapped up in the capital on April 1.

In its forewords, the Declaration said international commitments can only be met with strong political will, leadership and national ownership.

It said the adoption of the new post-2015 development agenda and its sustainable development goals in September 2015 will afford a unique opportunity to meet global challenges, using a universal, integrated approach that will apply to all countries and link poverty eradication to sustainable development.

It reaffirmed the vision of a people-centered sustainable development based on the realisation of all human rights, to eradicate poverty in all its forms, and eliminate inequalities, thus empowering all individuals to exercise their full potential.

This requires conditions of peace and security, in full observance of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, it said, adding that a people-centred approach requires environmental justice: the planet and all its ecosystems must be treated as common assets for the whole of humanity to enjoy now and in the future. Human well-being must be the driver of all policies for sustainable development, and progress measured in terms that go well beyond.

Supporting an ambitious set of 17 goals, parliamentarians committed to do their utmost to strengthen national ownership of the goals, particularly by making them known to their constituents.

They pledged to translate the goals into enforceable domestic laws and regulations, including through the critical budget process. Each country must do its part to ensure that all the goals are met.

Representatives from African, Arabian, Asia-Pacific, Latin American and the Caribbean countries delivered speeches thanking the National Assembly, government and people of Vietnam for their hospitality during the stay.

In his closing speech, IPU President Saber Chowdhury said 2015 is a defining year for the world future in the next 20 years, thereby parliaments worldwide need to stay united in the global IPU mechanism.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, who is also IPU-132 President, declared the adoption of the Resolution “Cyber warfare - a serious threat to peace and international security” of the Standing Committee on Peace and International Security, the Resolution on “Shaping new mechanisms on water resources management, promoting parliamentary action on water and sanitation” of the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade, and the Resolution “ International law as it relates to national sovereignty, non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and human rights” of the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights.

He said the Hanoi Declaration will be submitted to the Summit of the United Nations General Assembly this September, laying a foundation for parliaments to suggest ideas to realise SDGs, contributing to peace, friendship and cooperation among countries, parliaments and advancing the next development step in the international community beyond 2015.

Source: vietnam+