The 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians, hosted for the first time by the Vietnamese National Assembly, from September 14-17 in Hanoi, was a great success.
With the theme; “The role of youth in promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through digital transformation and innovation”, the Conference called on young parliamentarians to promote a sense of responsibility in promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) globally through practical actions.
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The 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians, hosted for the first time by the Vietnamese National Assembly, from September 14-17, in Hanoi. Photo: Internet. [/caption]The 9th Global Meeting of Young Parliamentarians emphasized the particularly important role of Parliament in implementing the SDGs, especially in perfecting the legal framework to facilitate the implementation of the SDGs. At the same time, it highlighted the “pioneering role” of young parliamentarians in bringing the voice of young people into parliament as well as applying innovation and creativity to the implementation of the SDGs; affirming that the participation of young people will contribute to accelerating and finding new directions for the realization of the SDGs.
For the first time after 8 sessions, the 9th Global Meeting of Young Parliamentarians adopted the Conference Declaration on “The role of youth in promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through digital transformation and innovation”. The Declaration was issued in the current context, where countries are facing many challenges in achieving the SDGs, with only 12% of the goals being implemented well, while 50% of the goals are behind schedule.
According to the Young Parliamentarians, the world is witnessing rapid developments in technology, digital transformation and innovation. As technology users and technology enablers, young people are in a key position to put digital transformation and innovation at the centre of action, to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs and make them more accessible to everyone and leave no one behind. In this regard, Young Parliamentarians can play a key role in developing a generation of young people who are tech-savvy and problem-solvers to promote peace and sustainable development.
Mr. Dan Carden, Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Young Parliamentarians’ Forum, UK MP, emphasized: Science and technology are not only key to sustainable development but also to promoting peace and security. We, as young parliamentarians, can play a vital role in developing a generation of young people who are tech-savvy and problem-solvers to promote peace and sustainable development. Young parliamentarians have a responsibility to ensure that technological innovations are governed by ethical principles, which recognize cultural diversity as a strength for sustainable development. As we harness the power of technology and innovation in a changing world, we must strive to maximize the benefits they bring while minimizing unintended risks. This means taking an ethical and prudent approach to science and technology to ensure that science and technology are used for the betterment of human life.
Affirming the pioneering role of the young generation, including young parliamentarians, in accelerating the implementation of the SDGs in the coming years, Mr. Duarte Pacheco, President of the IPU, called for: "We need to be determined to fulfill our commitments, young parliamentarians need to become leaders, not just politicians. The young generation needs to create change, promote science, innovation, devote more resources to technology, improve digital literacy, have appropriate responses to protect the environment and adapt to climate change. The IPU, its members, and the IPU Secretariat always support and create favorable conditions for young parliamentarians to act."
According to statistics, Vietnam is one of the countries in the world with a high proportion of young people under 45 years old participating in parliamentary activities, accounting for nearly 25% of the total number of National Assembly deputies. The Vietnamese National Assembly's successful organization of the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians is an opportunity for Vietnam to receive and listen to the lessons of parliamentarians, especially young parliamentarians globally, in policy making and planning.
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President Vo Van Thuong sends message to the Global Young Congressmen. Photo: Internet. [/caption]Delegate Hoang Minh Hieu, National Assembly delegation of Nghe An province, said: "There are many experiences of other countries that have suggested that Vietnamese delegates can learn from. These include their regulations, software, and applications in enhancing the participation of people, especially the younger generation, in contributing opinions to policy making. Or there are members of the National Assembly who established the Future Committee to consider issues related to new technologies, such as: AI, blockchain... These are very good policy suggestions that Vietnam can learn from."
In the current domestic and international context, young Vietnamese National Assembly deputies are aware of their responsibilities and are committed to actively and effectively participating in the process of building and perfecting institutions and legal frameworks; and effectively supervising policy implementation. At the same time, they are constantly striving to become global digital citizens and spread Vietnamese values and cultural identity to the international arena.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Chairman of the Vietnam Young Parliamentarians Group, Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee of the 9th Global Young Parliamentarians' Conference, emphasized: "Through this conference, we want to call for and promote the spirit, responsibility and participation of Vietnamese youth in three contents that the country is also in great need of at present, which are: innovation, digital transformation and promoting cultural diversity for the goal of sustainable development. Only when young people are properly aware of their responsibilities in these contents, will they create a new impetus and resource for the country's development process, towards the goal of a strong and prosperous Vietnam as set out in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress."
The 9th Global Young Parliamentarians’ Conference, which took place right before the United Nations Summit on the SDGs (September 18-19 in New York, USA), clearly demonstrated the actions of parliaments around the world in promoting the role of parliamentarians, including young parliamentarians, in implementing the SDGs. From here, young Vietnamese National Assembly deputies are also aware of their roles and responsibilities in perfecting and implementing policies to join the Vietnamese National Assembly in fulfilling the agreed commitments on implementing the sustainable development goals, especially implementing the SDGs through digital transformation and innovation./.
Thu Hang
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