APPF-26 Annual Meeting continues APEC, raising Vietnam's prestige

The Vietnamese National Assembly hosted the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), marking an important foreign political event, opening the diplomatic activities of our State in 2018.

The APPF-26 takes place in the context of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum's 25th anniversary of its establishment and development. This is a new milestone in the history of the APPF, requiring the renewal of the agenda and defining a new vision for the APPF in the next stage of development.

To date, more than 20 member parliaments have confirmed that they will attend the APPF-26 Conference hosted by the Vietnamese National Assembly from January 18-21, 2018 in Hanoi.

Vietnam joined APPF in January 1995 and this is the second time the Vietnamese National Assembly has hosted the APPF Annual Conference. (Previously, Vietnam hosted the APPF-13 Conference in Ha Long in January 2005).

APPF and APEC go hand in hand and link the global economy

The APPF-26 is of great significance and is a practical action by the Parliaments and parliamentarians of member countries in supporting the Da Nang Declaration on “Creating new dynamism and fostering a shared future” adopted by the APEC Summit. The conference also aims to promote the role of Parliaments in APEC cooperation activities, promoting the results of the APEC Summit Week on the Parliamentary channel. The APPF and APEC will continue to work together, contributing to promoting the role of Asia-Pacific as a driving force for global economic growth and integration.

The Report on the Outcomes of the 2017 APEC Summit will be a part of the APFF-26. In the discussion session on “Economic and Trade Issues”, delegates will share the views of the Parliament, as well as their contributions to the region’s efforts to expand trade and investment cooperation, peace, stability, prosperity and sustainable development around the agenda of the 2017 APEC Summit.

APPF Hanoi Declaration - New vision of Asia-Pacific parliamentary partnership

The issue of “Food Security and Sustainable Agricultural Development” of APPF-26 is also a content closely related to the recent APEC Summit. Accordingly, it affirms that Parliaments play an important role in promoting the implementation of sustainable development goals, including ensuring food security, through specific actions and solutions.

As APPF Chair, Vietnam proposed the theme "Parliamentary partnership for peace, innovation, and sustainable growth" for the 26th APPF Conference.,reflects the development trend of parliamentary diplomacy in the world, especially in multilateral forums.

The theme also guides the plenary discussions of the Conference, aiming to issue a Joint Statement affirming the commitment of the parliaments of member countries in economic, cultural and regional development cooperation for peace, security, prosperity, sustainable and inclusive development.

The Vietnamese National Assembly also proposed the draft APPF Hanoi Declaration - A New Vision for Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Partnership. The Declaration will ensure the continuity of APEC, as well as be consistent with the landmark Declarations that APPF has previously adopted.

The APPF-26 will welcome delegates from many major countries with important roles and voices in international relations. Therefore, hosting the APPF-26 will contribute to enhancing the prestige of the Vietnamese National Assembly in particular and Vietnam in general, especially following the success of the APEC Summit Week held in November 2017 in Da Nang./.

The APPF was established on March 15, 1993, by former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone and currently has 27 member parliaments including: Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Chile, Colombia, China, Ecuador, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, United States and Vietnam.

Hoang Le