From Tuesday 28 June to Friday 1 July 2022, a BGIPU delegation visited the Republic of Korea with the aim of further enhancing bilateral relations. The delegation was led by BGIPU Chair, Harriett Baldwin MP, who was joined by Co-Chair of the Korea APPG, Zarah Sultana MP, along with Shailesh Vara MP, Chris Matheson MP and […]
It was a first trip to Gabon for the whole of the delegation which included Lyn Brown MP (Labour’s Shadow Minister for Africa), Kate Osamor MP, Gagan Mohindra MP and myself. The trip was supported by Lucy Nash from the BGIPU, the Gabonese Ambassador to London and our non-resident Ambassador, Christian Dennys, who is based […]
From 9th-12th May, a BGIPU delegation visited Greece looking to further strengthen bilateral relations and gain a better understanding of the Greek political system. The delegation was led by Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, who was joined by Chris Bryant MP, Derek Twigg MP and Angus MacNeil MP. Both the Hellenic Parliament and the British […]
In line with the latest Government advice and guidance from Public Health England, all visitor access to the Parliamentary Estate ceased from 17 March 2020 with access be restricted to official passholders and those on essential Parliamentary business. For full details read below and check for updates. Decision by Speakers of both Houses This decision, […]
From 2nd to 6th March, a BGIPU delegation visited Liberia with the aim of enhancing interparliamentary relations and reciprocating an inward visit to London by the Liberian Group of the IPU in 2018. The delegation comprised of Lord Hannay of Chiswick and Adam Holloway. The hospitality we received from the Liberian Group of the IPU […]
Following a successful visit by Lithuanian parliamentarians to the UK parliament last year, a BGIPU delegation visited Lithuania from 23rd to 27th September. The delegation was led by BGIPU and Lithuania APPG Chair, Rt Hon John Whittingdale OBE MP (Conservative), who was joined by Daniel Kawczynski MP (Conservative), Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat), Rt Hon Lord […]
From 18 to 21 February, a BGIPU delegation visited Ethiopia as part of a scoping mission with the aim of boosting interparliamentary relations, including through inviting a parliamentary delegation from Ethiopia to visit London. The delegation, comprised Rt Hon Baroness Anelay DBE, Baroness Barker and Pauline Latham OBE MP, who saw that the UK continues to be a trusted partner for the country as Ethiopia undergoes profound political transition alongside economic and social transformation under the reform policies of Prime Minister Abiy.
From 4th to 9th November 2018 Nigel Evans MP led a cross-party delegation to Chile, comprised of Julia Lopez MP (Conservative), Dr. Lisa Cameron MP (SNP, Chile APPG Chair) and Sharon Hodgson MP (Labour, Shadow Public Health Minister) from the House of Commons, and Baroness Hooper CMG (Conservative) and Lord Rennard MBE (Lib Dem) from the House of Lords. During the weeklong visit the delegation had a series of ministerial meetings and engagements with parliamentary counterparts to discuss a wide range of issues.
Our visit to Vietnam comprised a cross-party group of four MPs and two Peers which travelled the length of the country from Hanoi in the north, to Danang onwards to Ho Chi Minh City in the south. As Vietnam’s economy continues to grow and creates increased prosperity, it will be incumbent upon the country’s many international partners like the UK to do their utmost to help Vietnam along a path of social and political change. This visit has hopefully ensured the friendship between our Parliaments has been truly deepened to assist that process.
Like many of my generation my knowledge of Vietnam is shaped by the harrowing images of the war in the 1970s. I wanted to know how Vietnam has moved on since that dreadful time and the extent to which it has managed to recreate and rebuild itself. I was also really curious to know about whether the communist system was managing to keep relevant and how, if at all, it seeks to promote its legitimacy and genuinely modernise the infrastructure and economy of the country. I reflect upon what I found during this recent BGIPU visit.
