17 December 2003- His Excellency Nguyen Van An, Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, arrived in Manila for a four-day official visit from 14 to 17 December 2003 to promote closer inter-parliamentary relations and invigorate the existing cooperation and dialogue between the two countries, notably  between their key political leaders. He is accompanied by a delegation of 14 Vietnamese parliamentarians and 30 businessmen.

Chairman An and the visiting parliamentarians aims to learn about immunity and privileges of members of the Philippine Congress; work conditions in Congress including its number of offices and their organizational set-up and staff; and activities of a member of the Congress and how he relates to his constituents.

In addition, Chairman An and his business delegation would also like to see developments in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as Vietnam intends to similarly convert the former Russian Cam Ranh Bay military base area.

During Chairman An’s visit, his first to the country, he is set to meet Senate President Franklin M. Drilon and Speaker Jose de Venecia who invited him to the country. He will also visit the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Vietnam were established on 12 July 1976, which created the necessary climate of trust and confidence between the two countries as neighbours in the region. END