Hanoi (VNA) – The 26th AnnualMeeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26) will serve as abooster for cooperation in the framework of the Asia - Pacific EconomicCooperation (APEC) on the parliamentary arena, stated National AssemblyChairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

Ngan, who is also APPF Chair for 2017 –2018, told the media in an interview before the APPF-26 that the VietnameseNational Assembly (NA)’s hosting of the APPF-26 reflects its increasing roleand prestige in regional and international parliamentary diplomatic activities.

The event, slated to open on January 18 inHanoi, is an opportunity for the NA to enhance diplomatic relations with itsregional counterparts and to promote its innovative, dynamic and reliable imageamong international friends, she added.

In an article on the upcoming event, ViceChairman of the NA Office and head of the information section for APPF-26 DoManh Hung highlighted the meeting’s mission of defining the direction formember parliaments in building an APPF vision of a common future for all andpractical benefits of all nations and all people.

The APPF-26 under the theme of “Parliamentarypartnership for peace, innovation and sustainable development”, will focus onseveral key topics, one of which is how to boost parliamentary diplomacy forpeace, security, and prosperity in the region and in the world. Participantswill discuss pressing issues related to peace and security in Asia-Pacific,such as the Korean Peninsula, maritime security, cyber security, internationalterrorism, and trans-national crime.

Second, the meeting will hear reports onoutcomes of the 2017 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and discuss economiccooperation for Asia – Pacific. Member parliaments will share their views onand contribute to regional efforts toward expansion of trade-investmentengagement and sustainable development. They are set to mull over parliaments’role in boosting inclusive and extensive economic links, food security andgreen farming, and the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprisesin the digital age. These sub-topics are closely related to the APEC meeting’sagenda.

Third, delegates will delve into thepromotion of joint actions for climate change adaptation, mobilisation of resourcesfor sustainable growth, and culture-tourism collaboration across the region.

Fourth, they will examine initiatives onimproving APPF’s performance toward effectiveness and APPF’s role in regionalpeace and cooperation. In this regard, the meeting will examine amendments tothe New APPF Rules of Procedure and to the Meeting of Women Parliamentarians. TheMeeting of Women Parliamentarians is set to focus on promoting gender equalityfor sustainable development and shared prosperity.

According to Hung, the Vietnamese NA willpropose a draft of the Hanoi Declaration: A New Vision for Asia – PacificParliamentary Partnership, which stresses commitments by member parliaments to commongoals and benefits based on mutual respect for each other’s independence,sovereignty, territorial integrity, diversity in political institutions,culture and religion; upholding of the rule of law and international law. Itaims at enhancing the APPF’s role as a partner of APEC and helping the APEC torealise its commitments via parliaments’ main functions of law making,supervision and budget decisions.

The APPF meeting will take place in Hanoifrom January 18-21. Vietnam first hosted an APPF annual meeting in 2005.

The APPF was officially formed in Tokyo,Japan, in 1993.

The forum now gathers 27 members: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 RoK,Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam.

The APPF is a mechanism that enablesparliamentarians to discuss issues of common concern, and to deepen their understandingof the region and the interests and experience of its diverse members. Theforum’s proceedings address political, security, economic, social and culturalissues, thus furthering regional cooperation and building relations between andamong parliamentarians from the Asia-Pacific region.-VNA