Promoting cohesive Asia-Pacific community for peace and sustainable development

This is the second time that the Vietnamese NA has hosted the APPF's annual meeting (illustrative image)

The APPF made its debut on March 15, 1993 with the participation of 27 member parliaments, including those in some powers such as the United States (US), Russia, Japan and China. The forum works towards the aim of building trust among member parliaments via the enhancement of dialogues between parliamentarians in the Asia-Pacific region, thereby contributing to maintaining peace, stability, sustainable development and prosperity for the whole region. In the current context of extensive globalisation, together with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the APPF has demonstrated its role as a crucial dialogue and cooperation mechanism among the countries in the region.

The Vietnamese NA has been a member of the APPF since 1995. Being deeply aware of the importance of the cohesion between Vietnam and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, the Vietnamese parliament has always been actively and responsibly involved in the APPF’s activities.

In January 2005, the Vietnamese NA successfully organised the 13th Annual Meeting of the APPF in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province. The APPF-26 takes place as the Vietnamese NA’s external relations, especially at regional and international multilateral forums, has reaped positive results, contributing to maintaining a peaceful environment and taking advantage of favourable conditions in order to develop the country; safeguard national independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity; and constantly enhance the position of the nation.

Alongside the APPF, the Vietnamese NA has also been proactively, actively and responsibly involved in major inter-parliamentary cooperation forums, such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the Francophone Parliamentary Assembly (APF) and the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA).

Within the framework of the APPF-26, participants will discuss ideas concerning the issues of politics-security, economy-trade, developmental cooperation in the region and the APPF’s role, aiming towards the sustainable development and common prosperity of the region. The APPF-26 will orientate a vision for the APPF, helping to strengthen diplomatic relations between the Vietnam NA and parliaments in the region and in the world, whilst contributing to facilitating the role of parliaments toward the APEC cooperation and promoting the results of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week 2017 on the parliamentary channel.

The hosting of the APPF-26 aims to affirms Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development; diversification and multilateralism of international relations; active and proactive international integration; and being a trusted partner and a responsible member of the international community. The APPF-26 is a significant highlight in foreign affairs of the 14th NA, offering an opportunity to expand and strengthen diplomatic ties between Vietnam and many other important partners.

This is the second time that the Vietnamese NA has hosted the APPF’s annual meeting, which has contributed to transmitting a strong message and an image of a renovated, dynamic, active and responsible Vietnamese parliament. Through the APPF-26, Vietnam continues to promote itself to international friends as a peaceful and stable country with dynamic development as well as creative and hospitable people.

With Vietnam’s constantly strengthened position, together with the support and trust from international friends, there is a strong belief that the Vietnamese NA will successfully organise the APPF-26, thereby affirming the country’s position and prestige in the international arena and demonstrating the commitments of the Vietnamese NA as well as the forum’s member parliaments towards developing a stable, dynamic and cohesive Asia-Pacific community for peace, innovation and sustainable development./.

NDO