Photo: VOV

Nearly 300 delegates representing 62 international and Vietnamese parliamentary delegations visited Ha Long Bay. Leaders of Quang Ninh Province welcomed and presented flowers to the delegation at Ha Long International Cruise Port.

Photo: VOV

President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Duarte Pacheco, President of the National Assembly of Malawi Catherine Gotani Hara, President of the IPU Young Parliamentarians Forum Dan Carden, Vice President of the National Assembly of Cuba Ana Maria Machado, Vice President of the National Assembly of Algeria Monder Bouden... and young parliamentarians boarded the cruise to start their visit. Accompanying them were Vice Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tran Quang Phuong and many Vietnamese National Assembly delegates.

Photo: VOV

Many young parliamentarians were surprised and impressed by the unique Vietnamese musical instruments in the welcoming art programme. The 4-hour tour itinerary on Ha Long Bay took delegates past many symbolic rocky islands of the heritage bay.

Photo: VOV

Mr. Dang Xuan Phuong - Deputy Secretary of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee expressed his honour when Ha Long was selected as a destination in the itinerary of the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians. The Conference's theme is "the role of young people in promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through digital transformation and innovation”. He affirmed: In the process of striving to become a "model province of wealth, beauty, civilization, and modernity", Quang Ninh determines that youth will be the pioneering force and mastermind of innovation, creativity, and meet urgent tasks associated with the National Digital Transformation Strategy.

Deputy Secretary of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee presenting delegates with souvenirs bearing images of Ha Long Bay (Photo: VOV)

Photo: VOV

Mr. Duarte Pacheco, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) congratulated Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago which has just been registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. He sent his thankfulness to the National Assembly of Vietnam for the warm invitations, presented IPU souvenirs to Vice Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tran Quang Phuong and expressed his intention to continue to visit Vietnam and Ha Long Bay in the near future.

Photo: VOV

The delegates admired the scenery of Ha Long Bay and enjoyed a luncheon with special Vietnamese and international dishes.

The cruise became more exciting as young parliamentarians interacted and shared typical songs and dances of their country (Photo: VOV)

Photo: VOV

Many young international parliamentarians came to Ha Long, Vietnam for the first time. Ms. Jane Njeri Maina, a Kenyan parliamentarian, expressed her emotion at being warmly welcomed that she has learned a lot through this conference and will discuss it with her Parliament when she returns to Kenya.

Photo: VOV

Although the weather has been drizzling, the beauty of Ha Long Bay still makes many people admire and enjoy it.

Photo: VOV

Young parliamentarians went on deck to capture beautiful images of Vietnam's nature. Ms. Zarah Sultana, UK parliamentarian said, Ha Long is truly amazing, the sea views are beautiful. It's great that UNESCO has registered this place as a World Heritage Site. She hopes to return to Ha Long soon with her family and friends.

Photo: VOV

The cruise to visit Ha Long Bay closes the programme of the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians hosted by Vietnam. The conference took place successfully with the participation of more than 300 young parliamentarians and delegates from more than 70 IPU member parliaments and representatives of international organisations; ambassadors, representatives of foreign diplomatic missions and international organisations in Vietnam.

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