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