Former IPU Secretary General Receives Friendship Order

Former Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Anders Johnsson has been honoured with the State President’s Friendship Order for his substantive and effective contributions to intensifying relations between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the IPU.
July 26, 2022 | 06:19
Permanent Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man (R) presents Friendship Order to former Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Anders Johnsson (Photo: VNA)
Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man (R) presents Friendship Order to former Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Anders Johnsson. Photo: VNA

The hand-over ceremony was chaired by Politburo member, Standing Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man in Hanoi on July 24, VietnamPlus reported.

Man affirmed that the honour is a recognition of Johnsson’s substantive and effective contributions to intensifying relations between the Vietnamese NA and the IPU.

The Vietnamese legislature appreciates the sincere sentiments and active support and cooperation of Anders Johnsson and his family for Vietnam over the past years since the first days of his working tenure at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Hanoi in 1980s.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man speaks at the ceremony (Photo: VNA)
Permanent Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man speaks at the ceremony. Photo: VNA

Man expressed his hope that Johnson will continue to share valuable information and experience to help Vietnam further promote its role at the globe’s largest inter-parliamentary forum.

He also took the occasion to thank Johnson's spouse, Kyra Nunez-Johnsson, for her contributions to Vietnam’s friendship with Mexico and the Latin American region.

Expressing his honour and sincere thanks to the Vietnamese Party, State and National Assembly for the decoration, the IPU’s former Secretary General affirmed that the country and people of Vietnam always hold a special position in his heart, emphasising that there is no greater reward for him than this Order.

He said he is delighted to contribute to the development and rising position of the Vietnamese NA in the word parliamentary forum, and affirmed to be a close friend of Vietnam, hoping to return to the country many times./.

Former IPU Secretary General Receives Friendship Order
Former Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Anders Johnsson. Photo: IPU

Anders B. Johnsson was the IPU Secretary General for four mandates, from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 2014, according to the IPU.

Before serving as IPU Secretary General, Johnsson directed the development of IPU's programme to strengthen parliaments and promote democracy. Prior to joining the IPU in 1991, he worked for more than 15 years in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) where he held senior positions in Honduras, Pakistan, Sudan and Viet Nam, as well as at UNHCR Headquarters where he was Senior Legal Adviser to the High Commissioner.

Johnsson has devoted his entire professional life to international cooperation and multilateral diplomacy. He is an expert in international law and politics, democracy, human rights, gender equality issues and parliamentary diplomacy. He is the author of several papers and articles and is frequently invited to speak on these subjects.

Born in 1948 in Lund, Sweden, Mr. Johnsson - who is fluent in English, French and Spanish - obtained a Bachelor of Law degree at Lund University, studied European law and integration in Bruges, Belgium, and took a Master of Comparative Law degree at New York University. He is married to a Mexican writer with whom he shares three children.

Exploring Cooperation Opportunities between Manipur (India) and Quang Tri (Vietnam)

Exploring Cooperation Opportunities between Manipur (India) and Quang Tri (Vietnam)

Both these provinces are at important locations to foster regional connectivity and offer complementary opportunities for cooperation.

Vietnam Presents Five Measures To Achieve Net-zero Targets At 144th IPU

Vietnam Presents Five Measures To Achieve Net-zero Targets At 144th IPU

On March 22, at the plenary meeting of the 144th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-144), Vietnam proposed five measures to promote parliaments' actions ...

Vietnam News Today (Mar. 26): Vietnam Greatly Contributes to 144th IPU Assembly’s Success

Vietnam News Today (Mar. 26): Vietnam Greatly Contributes to 144th IPU Assembly’s Success

Vietnam News Today (Mar. 26): Vietnam greatly contributes to 144th IPU Assembly’s success; Number of foreign passengers via airports in Q1 sees 441% rise; Virtual ...

Rosy Huong
Phiên bản di động