Roundup: ASEAN parliamentarians pledge continued cooperation in addressing region's challenges

The 37th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) wrapped up here Sunday with the regional parliamentarians pledging to continue cooperation to keep addressing challenges that the region faces.

"Through helping each other build up the capability of respective parliaments and by crafting and harmonizing laws supportive of ASEAN Community building, we can contribute significantly to the maintenance of regional peace and the promotion of economic progress and social development for the benefit of our people," presidency of the AIPA general assembly U Mann Win Khaing Than, who is speaker of the Myanmar parliament, told the the assembly in his closing address.

The regional parliamentarians also pledged commitment to build a progressive ASEAN Community.

A joint communique, issued at the end of the assembly, called for more emphasis on the implementation of AIPA resolutions and need to work closely with the ASEAN to overcome the new challenges while moving towards ASEAN Vision 2025.

The three-day AIPA general assembly adopted nearly 30 resolutions on issues of common interest which are of utmost significance to the ASEAN community.

The assembly discussed on topics such as ensuring cyber security in ASEAN, decent work for ASEAN women, preparedness and response to Zika virus infection, creating job opportunities and decent working condition in economic development, strengthening micro, small and medium enterprises and implementation of the Plan of Action of the ASEAN Declaration on strengthening social protecting.

The assembly also adopted the draft resolution on the amendment to the Rules of Procedure of Women Parliamentarians of AIPA.

U Mann Win Khaing Than called upon AIPA parliaments to continue raising awareness of AIPA's goals and activities among the people by taking the advantage of their role as the members of parliament.

Under the theme of "Vibrant AIPA for a Progressive ASEAN Community", Myanmar's parliament hosted the 37th AIPA General Assembly for the first time and was marked as a milestone for Myanmar's involvement.

In her opening address on last Friday, Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi said the country is continuing on the long and challenging path towards full democratization and ASEAN's support will be a great sources of strength and encouragement to the Southeast Asian member nation.

She also said the aim of AIPA align closely with Myanmar's domestic priorities, outlining some main areas of work that the country is undertaking.

Building on the work of the previous administration, the new government aims to bring an end to the decades-old conflict that have blighted the country since independence, she said.

Through political negotiation in the spirit of cooperation and compromise, she believes that it can realize the collective aspiration of the people for a peaceful, secure and prosperous future.

She also elaborated Myanmar's launching of an economic policy that aims to support national reconciliation, alleviate poverty, develop much-need infrastructure, encouraging responsible foreign investment and job creation for sustainable economic development of the country

She believes that the economic development of Myanmar will support the growing prosperity of the region as a whole and contribute to the future success of the ASEAN Community.

Moreover, Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw, in his message to the assembly, called on AIPA to play its vital role in addressing poverty reduction and bridging development gap among some member states and contribute to ASEAN Community Building.

This year's AIPA general assembly was held under the theme of "Vibrant AIPA for a Progressive ASEAN Community".

The presidency of the next 38th AIPA general assembly will be taken over by the Philippines and the event under the theme of "AIPA and ASEAN: Partnering for Inclusive Change" will be held in September 2017 in Manila with Georgia and Ukraine to be attending as observers. Enditem