HANOI, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The 31st ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) will open in Vietnam's capital Hanoi city on Sept. 20 under the theme of "solidarity for sustainable development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) community", an official of the Vietnamese National Assembly said Friday.

Representatives at the 31st AIPA will discuss various topics like coping with impacts of global financial crisis, boosting sustainable development, promoting clean energy, bolstering dialogues with private economic sectors and increasing awareness of ASEAN identity, said Nguyen Van Son, chair of the Vietnamese National Assembly's Committee for External Affairs at a press conference.

Representatives will also hold discussions on climate change, natural disasters management and disease prevention, preserving water resource in Mekong river, human resource development among ASEAN nations, enhancing social welfare and development for children and women, and increasing role of women parliamentarians, said Son who also serves as Chairman of the Organizing Board of the 31st AIPA General Assembly.

According to Son, there will be two plenary sessions and four committee meetings on political matters, economic matters, social matters and organizational matters. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is expected to attend the opening ceremony and deliver a speech.

The meeting will provide a chance for representatives to discuss regional and international issues of common interests as well as discussing measures to enhance coordination between AIPA and ASEAN in order to increase ASEAN internal connection and cooperation with external international partners, said Son.

ASEAN, founded in 1967, now groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.