National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan chaired a meeting on January 8 to review the preparation of the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26).

Scene at the NA meeting in preparation for the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF 26)

At the function, reports from relevant sub-committees for reception, logistics, information – communications, and medical care showed that preparation work have been basically completed in line with required standards.

Six APPF-26 draft resolutions have also been done. The documents focus on APPF’s role in boosting partnerships for sustainable and inclusive growth in Asia-Pacific, improving cultural-tourism cooperation in the region, and intensifying joint actions for climate change adaptation. They also deal with food security – sustainable farming, parliamentary role in promoting extensive and inclusive economic connectivity in the region, and the enhancement of parliamentary diplomacy for regional and global peace, security, and prosperity.

Addressing the meeting, Ngan, who is also APPF Chair for 2017 – 2018, acknowledged efforts made by relevant agencies in preparation for the event, particularly the prompt completion of the draft resolutions.

The resolutions are linked together and reflect active contribution of Vietnam to the APPF, she said.

The top legislator stressed the APPF-26 has important meaning and is a practical action of APPF members in support of the Da Nang Declaration on Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future. The declaration was issued by the 25th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Da Nang in November last year.

The APPF-26 will discuss cooperation across economics, culture, and sustainable and inclusive development toward the issuance of a joint declaration, Ngan noted.

She urged the sub-committees continue examining and finishing their work to be ready for the upcoming APPF-26.

The APPF meeting will take place in Hanoi from January 18-21 under the theme of “Parliamentary partnership for peace, innovation and sustainable development”.

The APPF was officially formed in Tokyo, Japan, in 1993. 

The forum now gathers 27 members: Australia, Cambodia, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, the RoK, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam.

The mechanism aims to directly assist the APEC, contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region. 

The APPF is a mechanism that enables parliamentarians to discuss issues of common concern, and to deepen their understanding of the region and the interests and experience of its diverse members. The forum’s proceedings address political, security, economic, social and cultural issues, thus furthering regional cooperation and building relations between and among parliamentarians from the Asia-Pacific region.-VNA