Vietnam attends IPU meeting A delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) led by Do Van Tai, member of the NA Standing Committee and chairman of the NA's Committee for External Relations, has attended the 104th annual meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The meeting, which opened in Jakarta, Indonesia, on October 15, had the participation of more than 1,300 delegates from 130 member countries. Participants discussed issues relating to global security and politics, donations for development and a new co-operation framework for socio-economic development. They re-considered methods of punishment, including economic embargoes, in the context of globalisation, and discussed what was needed to lessen tension and use of force in the Middle East. The Vietnamese delegation was received by Akbar Tanjung, speaker of Indonesian House of Representatives. The two sides informed each other of national construction and development in their countries and activities of the two countries' legislative agencies. Speaker Akbar Tanjung applauded the Vietnamese people's past struggle for liberation and their present renovation process. He also spoke highly of the solidarity and friendship between Indonesia and Vietnam. He affirmed that his country would continue strengthening friendship and co-operation with Vietnam and its legislature, in the interests of the two countries and for peace, independence and development in the region and the world. (VNA)
