Regional parliamentarians gather

Regional parliamentarians gather

(20-09-2005)

President of the Lao National Assembly Samane Vignaket and Viet Nam National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An (left).— VNA/VNS Photo Tri Dung

VIENTIAN — The region’s politics, economy and society are being discussed by the more than 300 delegates attending the 26th general assembly of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Inter-Parliamentary Organisation (AIPO) that opened in Vientiane, Laos, yesterday.

"AIPO has taken measures to make the forum more effective and participatory," said its president and president of the Lao National Assembly, Samane Vignaket, when he opened the session.

But the process should be steady and match reality while a regular co-ordinating mechanism between AIPO and ASEAN was determined, he said.

Developments in both the world and the region had been positive because of the exchange of visits since AIPO’s last general assembly.

These had created a favourable environment for the promotion of peace and co-operation and enhanced the development of ASEAN members and other countries.

"However, we have had to face various challenges such as terrorism, transnational crime, communicable diseases and natural disasters," he said. The soaring oil price had also hampered economic development."

Laos Prime Minister Bounnhang Vorachith called for ASEAN nations to "maintain the fundamental principles that were the basis for co-operation among member countries" so as to attain the association’s 2020 objectives.

Parliamentarians from eight AIPO countries – Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam and Laos, representatives from two AIPO special observers – Brunei and Myanmar , their dialogue partners and nine AIPO observers attended the first plenary session immediately after the official opening.

ASEAN general secretary Ong Keng Yong and an East Timor representative also attended.

Topics for discussion included:

Measures against terrorism and piracy;

The Treaty of Amity and Co-operation in Southeast Asia;

The road map for ASEAN’s economic development;

Establishment of an ASEAN development fund;

Legal co-operation inn combating women and child trafficking;

Disaster management and international security; and

Trade liberalisation.

Viet Nam’s National Assembly chairman Nguyen Van An told the session that the Asia-Pacific countries in general and Southeast Asia in particular had worked to maintain sustainable development.

The status of ASEAN had been raised and continued to be steady in the wider regional integration process, he said.

AIPO was important in reflecting the voice, will and aspirations of nations.

Its 26th general assembly was being held immediately after the Second World Conference of Parliamentary Speakers at the United Nations in New York.

The important final declaration of that conference required AIPO to undertake its activities in the most practical and efficient way so as voters obtained the best result.

As ten years an AIPO member, the Viet Nam National Assembly had joined the mainstream of ASEAN and was working with other member parliaments to consolidate solidarity, unity, co-operation and development of both organisations.

The national assembly chairman said that he believed that AIPO would play an even more important role in promoting peace, stability, development and the prosperity of nations.

Congratulatory letters

In a congratulatory letter to the general assembly, Viet Nam’s President Tran Duc Luong wrote that it was taking place at a time when the international and regional situation was complex with uncertain and unpredictable elements in international relations.

International terrorism still posed a major threat to regional and national development and security, the letter says.

Other challenges include civil wars, ethnic conflict, poverty, epidemics, natural disasters, environmental destruction and unfairness in trade between developed and developing countries.

Yet Southeast Asia has been able to maintain peace, stability and high economic growth.

The common aspirations of its people have been well reflected in outstanding success of the ASEAN 10 Summit and clear directions set out in the Vientiane Plan of Action that is intended to build a dynamic, resilient and closely bonded ASEAN community by 2020.

AIPO has always been important to the promotion of co-operation among ASEAN parliaments and made worthy contribution to the close ties between legislative and executive bodies, the letter says.

It has overcome differences to make a substantive contribution to the enhancement of mutual understanding, trust, and friendship among nations, while working closely with governments in addressing pressing political, security, economic, and social issues and improve people’s life.

It meant that AIPO has become an important regional political forum. — VNS

 

From: http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=02POL200905