SIEM REAP – Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân has called on member parliaments of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) to continue with their comprehensive and close co-operation in all spheres to ensure the effective operation of the forum.

Ngân, who was 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 Tuesday under the theme “Strengthening parliamentary partnership for peace, security, and sustainable development”.

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

The top Vietnamese legislator stressed that the Hà Nội 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), according to the Vietnamese leader.

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.

The APPF-27 is taking place amid 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 had maintained its pace of growth and served as the driver of the global economy and the core factor in expanding multi-layer connectivity and enhancing partnerships for the targets of peace, co-operation and sustainable development.

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

Peace, stability, sustainability

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 co-operation 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 realise 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 was essential for member parliaments to join hands to boost co-operation 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 genocidal Pol Pot regime, and highlighted the significance of peace and stability in nation building and development in each country.

The Cambodian Government leader took the occasion to thank the international community, including Việt Nam, for their assistance. “Việt Nam 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 were 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 co-operation 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. — VNS