Opening of the meeting of the Standing Committee of ICAPP

The 19th meeting of the Standing Committee of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), hosted by the Communist Party of Vietnam, opened on the morning of April 25 in Hanoi.

Party Central Committee member and Head of the Party Central Committee's External Relations Commission Hoang Binh Quan speaks at the opening session. (Photo: An Dang/VNA)

The conference was attended by 37 delegations representing leaders of ruling parties, major political parties of Asian countries, observers and guests, regional and international organizations from 26 countries around the world.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Party Central Committee member and Head of the Party Central Committee's External Relations Commission Hoang Binh Quan emphasized that with an open foreign policy, multilateralization, diversification of international relations, being a friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community, Vietnam has continuously expanded relations with other countries.

To date, Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 180 countries; of which it has built strategic partnerships with many countries, has economic and trade relations with nearly 230 countries and territories; and investment relations with nearly 100 countries and territories around the world.

On the multilateral level, Vietnam is an active and responsible member of all major regional and international organizations and forums. The Party's foreign relations are also constantly expanding. Currently, the Communist Party of Vietnam has relations at different levels with 206 parties in 115 countries around the world.

As a revolutionary Party with more than 80 years of training and maturity, with the achievements and experience of more than 26 years of renovation, Vietnam is striving to overcome current difficulties and challenges, confidently implementing a socialist-oriented market economy, comprehensively promoting the renovation process to basically become a modern industrialized country by 2020.

Assessing the role and influence of ICAPP over the past 13 years, Head of the Central External Relations Commission Hoang Binh Quan said that ICAPP forums and conferences have truly enhanced mutual understanding and promoted cooperation between political parties in and outside the region, an important factor contributing to strengthening regional connectivity, promoting regional cooperation and resolving conflicts through the special role of political parties.

Vietnam highly appreciates and acknowledges the important role of the ICAPP Standing Committee - the executive body of ICAPP, which has had many practical initiatives and activities, orienting ICAPP activities to develop both in breadth and depth. Vietnam also wishes and welcomes initiatives to enhance the rigor in ICAPP's operations, mechanisms and principles in operations to consolidate ICAPP's sustainability, making ICAPP's activities increasingly more in-depth, more substantial, more practical and more effective.

Mr. Hoang Binh Quan stated that in foreign relations, the Communist Party of Vietnam always attaches importance to and advocates proactive and active participation in multilateral political organizations and forums. Particularly for ICAPP, the policy of promoting and consolidating relations is a priority policy of the Party. Vietnam participated in the first activities of ICAPP and became a member of the Standing Committee of ICAPP since September 2004.

As a peace-loving country and a responsible member of the international community, Vietnam always actively responds to and coordinates the implementation of initiatives and constructive proposals, wishing to make practical contributions to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

As a member of the ICAPP Standing Committee, the Communist Party of Vietnam is deeply aware of its role and responsibility in promoting the common goals of ICAPP, is willing to share common opportunities and challenges, constantly enhance understanding, trust and cooperation among political parties in the region, and together maintain peace, stability and prosperous development in the continent.

The International Conference of Asian Political Parties was established in September 2000 at the initiative of Mr. Jose de Venezia, former Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives, to enhance understanding and trust among Asian political parties, promote cooperation and create common political awareness among parties on regional issues through the special role of political parties in the political arena of countries; create an environment of peace and common prosperity in the region.

Since 2000, ICAPP has organized 7 plenary conferences (every 2 years), held in rotation in countries hosted by member parties. In addition to plenary conferences, ICAPP also organizes special seminars, thematic seminars, focusing on current issues such as poverty reduction, environmental protection, the role of youth and women in politics, etc.
ICAPP operates in accordance with the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, international law and the ICAPP Charter, which emphasizes the principles of “unity” and “consensus.”

Although the structure, organizational apparatus, and operating regulations are not really tight and not binding on members, ICAPP is increasingly moving towards an operating model similar to that of an international organization.

ICAPP has established a number of permanent mechanisms to coordinate common activities, both during and between Plenary Conferences, and has established basic operating principles in the ICAPP Charter./.

According to (TTXVN) - LT