The 33rd General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) held its second plenary session in Lombok , Indonesia on September 21. It adopted many important decisions, marking a new development in the AIPA’s role and relationship, proceeding to the ASEAN Community.
The General Assembly agreed to adopt two resolutions made by the Committee on Political Matters to ‘encourage ASEAN member countries to raise awareness and increase public participation, including civic groups, to help create the ASEAN Community’, and ‘maintain peace and stability in the region’.
It also passed several resolutions on socio-economic issues and female parliamentarians, and agreed with proposals from the Committee on Organisational Matters, including the appointment of a Singaporean representative as AIPA Secretary General for a three-year tenure starting on March 1, 2013.
The participants decided that the 34 th AIPA General Assembly will be held in Brunei from September 15-21 next year.
They also adopted a report on talks between AIPA and its observers, including Australia , Belarus , Canada , China , the European Parliament (EP), India , Japan , the Republic of Korea and Russia , focusing on developing human resources and enhancing regional capabilities.
Up for discussion were measures to boost coordination in strategic research and technological transfers in agriculture, food and forestry; energy and environmental related issues; adapting to climate change and improving parliamentary cooperation between AIPA members and its observers.
Before the 33 rd AIPA General Assembly concluded later the same day, parliamentarian Pehin Dato Haki Judin Haji Asar from Brunei took over the role of AIPA Chair when the country hosts the 34 th AIPA General Assembly in 2013.-VNA