The closing ceremony of the AIPA General Assembly. Yousos Apdoulrashim
The 43rd AIPA General Assembly (AIPA-43) drew to a close on November 24, with many resolutions approved.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Cambodian National Assembly (NA) president Heng Samrin, who chaired the AIPA-43, said the November 20-25 meetings had made the region stronger on the socio-economic and political fronts.
He said that for the past five days, all members had worked hard to make the meetings meaningful and achieved satisfactory results, and that this could not have been accomplished without the active participation and valuable contributions of all parties.
He added that it was important for AIPA to build relationships with outside parties, and was pleased that the assembly had awarded observer status to three new partners.
“Let me congratulate the parliaments of Nepal, Azerbaijan and the US for receiving recognition as observer parliaments of AIPA. We firmly believe that observer parliaments and partner institutions make a significant contribution to enhancing relationships and close cooperation with AIPA,” he continued.
Samrin said that credibility and mutual understanding within the AIPA family – as well as the observer parliaments – had been strengthened, with 16 countries participating as dialogue partners.
“This reflects the common good, a common purpose and a joint effort to resolve challenging problems together. Only by working together can we unite to resolve the global problems and challenges that are rapidly changing and becoming more complicated,” he added.
He said the outcomes of the assembly would be put into action, hoping that all members would do their best to serve the interests of their people.
During the general assembly, the NA initiated the establishment of a formal meeting of young parliamentarians and a digital library.
Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Puan Maharani, who will chair next year’s general assembly, said Southeast Asia – and the world – is currently dealing with instability, largely due to fierce competition between the superpowers and supply chain issues.
As the next rotating chair of the AIPA General Assembly (AIPA-44), she is determined to set a common vision to promote regional and global order.
“An orderly world will need the participation and support of the region. We will accomplish this together, in compliance with international law and the UN Charter. This is achievable with dialogue and diplomacy and the denial of violence. We will find solutions without using weapons,” she said.
The AIPA-43 saw ASEAN parliaments expanding cooperation with their dialogue partners including Russia, Japan, South Korea, Canada, the US, India, Belarus, Morocco, the EU, Australia, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Ukraine.
Cambodia’s NA also signed bilateral memorandums of understanding to increase cooperation with four of the dialogue partners: Azerbaijan, Morocco, Nepal and Ukraine.
