VCWA

CCTV hosts the Vermont Council on World Affairs for one of their Department of State International Visitor Leadership Programs (IVLP), welcoming an international delegation from Laos interested in learning about the values and policies used in the United States to increase accountability and transparency in government practice.

The five visting guests include Mr. Heng Khanthavisay, Ms. Pheophan Lattanamala, Mr. Thepphathai Phanka, Mr. Vongphakone Saysithideth, Ms. Vixay Srithirath. and Mr. Phosy Temmerath.

The Vermont Council on World Affairs welcomes Vietnamese Parliamentarians from our Open World Program to Vermont where they will stay with host families for one week.

Open World has been forging lasting positive relationships between emerging and established leaders in the former Soviet Union and their American counterparts since 1999. Program participants have a range of diverse backgrounds, and they come to the U.S. with the purpose of gaining a better understanding of American democracy and the rule of law in the U.S. While here, they are introduced to best practices in critical areas like sustaining NGOs, tackling corruption, and promoting an independent judiciary, and so much more.

Participants:

Le Thi Thanh Lam
Ms. Thanh Lam serves as a Member of the Executive Committee of the Provincial Party Committee as the Vice Head of the National Assembly Delegation. She previously served with the Hau Giang Provincial Labor Confederation as a Member of the Executive Committee of the General Confederation, the Member of the Executive Committee of the Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Union, Secretary of the Party Cell, and the  Chairperson of the confederation.

Hai Hung Nguyen
Mr. Nguyen is a lieutenant general in the Vietnam People’s Army, and was elected to the legislature in 2016. He currently serves on the Defense and Security Committee, and is chair of the friendship parliamentary groups for Singapore and China. He was elected to represent the Hai Duong province, and is interested in national security issues.

Minh Cuong Quan
Mr. Quan has been a member of the Communist Party since 1997, and is the Deputy Secretary of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee and Dean of the Dong Nai delegation to the National Assembly. He currently sits on the National Assembly’s Committee for Defense and Security. He studied at the People’s Police University, and later earned a law degree.

Tao Nguyen
Mr. Nguyen has represented the Lam Dong province in the National Assembly of Vietnam since 2016, and currently serves on the Law Committee. In addition, he serves as Vice Chairman on the Lam Dong Provincial Football Federation. Mr. Nguyen is a lawyer, and previously worked in the Department of Justice, in the Department of Foreign Affairs, and other public-sector roles.

Quynh Mai Dung Thai
Ms. Thai has been a member of the Communist Party since 2009, and joined the National Assembly in 2021. She represents the Duc Lam community in the Duc Tho district, and is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and is Vice Chair of the Vietnam-Australia Friendship Parliamentary Group. She holds a doctor of economics degree, and master of public policy. She previously worked at the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and in other economic roles.

The delegation will be accompanied by Duc Cong Dao, Political Specialist, US Embassy in Hanoi.

James Gunger will be representing the Vermont Council on World Affairs. Interpretation provided by Dinh Quynh Ngo.

Channel 17 Director Meghan O'Rourke sits down with Michal Musil, a visiting journalist from the Czech Republic and Senior Editor of the Reporter Magazine.