Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has called on member parliaments of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) to continue with their comprehensive and close cooperation in all spheres to ensure the effective operation of the forum. 

Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan speaks at the APPF-27.

Ngan, who is Chair of the 26th APPF Annual Meeting (APPF-26), made the appeal while addressing the 27th APPF Annual Meeting (APPF-27) that opened in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on January 15.

The APPF should further reform its organisation and enhance coordination and relations between legislative and executive channels of each regional country, she said. 

The Vietnamese top legislator stressed that the Hanoi Declaration adopted at the APPF-26 marked the 25-year development of the forum and opened up a new vision for parliamentary ties in Asia-Pacific by 2030. 

The document highlights efforts in accelerating trade liberalisation, narrowing development gaps between APPF member countries and promoting the implementation of international development commitments, especially the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), she added. 

APPF has successfully strengthened its partnership with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in an effort to materialise the wish of people in Asia-Pacific for a region of peace and development, reflecting a trend of the parliamentary diplomacy in a new development period, Ngan noted. 

The APPF-27 is taking place amidst complex developments of the global and regional situations, with such issues as trade tension, protectionism, unsettled “hot spots,” terrorism, cyber security, religious, racial and territorial conflicts, cross-border crimes, climate change, natural disasters, and diseases. 

These issues have posed serious challenges to regional stability, peace and security, as well as sustainable development of nations and people’s living standards. 

However, she said, the Asia-Pacific region has still maintained its growth pace and served as the driver of the global economy and the core factor in expanding multi-layer connectivity and enhancing partnership for the targets of peace, cooperation and sustainable development. 

Pursuing the targets of independence, self-reliance, dialogue and cooperation on the basis of international law and the United Nations Charter is the basic foundation to maintain peace, security and development, Ngan emphasised. 

Within the framework of the APPF-27, President of the Cambodian National Assembly Heng Samrin hosted a reception for representatives of delegations to the event. 

Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese NA Uong Chu Luu attended the meeting.

Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum convenes 27th annual meeting

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (fouth from left, first line) takes photo with other delegation heads 

The 27th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-27) officially kicked off in Siem Reap, Cambodia, under the theme “Strengthening parliamentary partnership for peace, security, and sustainable development”. 

In his opening remarks, President of the Cambodian National Assembly Heng Samrin, who is APPF-27 Chairman, affirmed that the meeting allows member parliaments to consolidate regional cooperation for peace, stability, security and sustainable development, to intensify mutual understanding, and to safeguard peace, stability, and sustainable development through the approval of resolutions to deal with shared concerns.

It also offers member parliaments a chance to link ideas and realize visions to strengthen collaboration in the current international environment.

Hailing the significance of the meeting’s main theme, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that APPF-27 is essential for member parliaments to join hands to boost cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in issues related to security and sustainable development.

He recalled difficulties in the country’s history, including the struggle against the Pol Pot genocidal regime, and highlighted the significance of peace and stability in the nation building and development in each country.

The Cambodian Government leader took the occasion to thank the international community, including Vietnam, for their assistance. “Vietnam saved our nation and helped us with post-war rebuilding efforts and the national development cause,” he affirmed.

President of the Cambodian Senate Say Chhum underlined that international migration, poverty, environmental issues and climate change are posing threats to peace, stability and sustainable development in the region and the world.

He also emphasised the need for parliaments in the Asia-Pacific region to foster bilateral and multilateral cooperation to exchange information on national laws and policies, as well as development in the region and around the globe, and to boost trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges to expand harmonious relations in all fields and at all levels.

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni sent a message to the APPF-27, in which he appreciated the forum’s activities over the past times and believed that its initiatives will be disseminated to the entire region.

The Vietnamese delegation to the event is led by National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

The APPF was established on March 15, 1993, with the purpose of building trust among parliaments in the Asia-Pacific via the enhancement of dialogues between regional parliamentarians, thus contributing to regional peace, sustainability and prosperity.

It gathers 27 member parliaments: 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 Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam.

VNA