The legislators of ASEAN Inter-parliament Assembly (AIPA) members held separate dialogues with their observers on a wide range of topics in Hanoi on Sept. 22.
The dialogues, as part of the on-going 31 st General Assembly of AIPA, were attended by observers Australia , Canada , China , the European parliament, Japan , the Republic of Korea , and Russia .
The AIPA legislators said they want to continue elevating cooperation with the observers and called for to the organisation of more dialogues. They highly valued cooperation and assistance the observers have provided to AIPA.
Discussing the regional and global security, both the observers and AIPA legislators expressed their concerns about the situation in the Korean peninsula and agreed that all issues should be settled via negotiations.
The observers said ASEAN has become their important partner in terms of external relations, noting that ASEAN member countries can play an important role in boosting the process of solving tension in the Korean peninsula due to their geographical nearness.
They expressed their support for the democratisation process in Myanmar with its first democratic election schedule for November.
The dialogue with Australia focused on boosting economic growth and maintaining stability in the region, while with Canada , AIPA members expressed wishes to enhance cooperation in education, suggesting Canada build universities in Southeast Asian countries.
They were also interested in cooperation with Canada in energy security and environmentally friendly solutions where Canada is one of the world’s leaders.
In the dialogue with China , many AIPA members lauded the cooperation and assistance in various fields given by the world’s most populous country and delivered wishes to step up educational cooperation with the country.
Regarding security issues in the region, China stated that disputes between nations should be addressed through talks in the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit.
China affirmed its need to boost tourism industry and said it is keen on investing in infrastructure construction in ASEAN.
The AIPA members said they want to see stronger China-ASEAN cooperation in handling issues relating to water resources of the Mekong river.
China expressed its hope that the AIPA member parliaments will enhance their cooperation with its National People’s Congress, particularly in the sharing of law-making experiences.
Talking with representatives from the European Parliament, the AIPA legislators delivered their hopes for ASEAN countries to benefit from more assistance policies pertaining to economy, infrastructure, environment and healthcare from the European community.
In dialogue with Japan , the AIPA legislators wished to learn Japan ’s experiences in dealing with drugs and natural disasters, preserving natural resources, especially forest resources, as well as in education and training.
They proposed the AIPA members and the Japanese parliament design specific cooperation programmes and share experiences in the making of laws and issues of mutual concern.
Conversing with the AIPA legislators, the Republic of Korea (RoK) expressed its hope to gain ASEAN’s support for the commitment to making the Korean peninsula free from nuclear weapons.
The RoK also expressed its wish that it and ASEAN member countries will bolster their economic cooperation, particularly in the entertainment industry for mutual benefits of all participated sides.
The AIPA legislators spoke highly of the recent progress in the relationship between ASEAN member countries and Russia , citing the establishment of the ASEAN centre in Moscow .
Many talked about the need to step up ASEAN’s ties with Russia in the private economic sector, education, scientific research, technological transfer and food security.
They also proposed the early application of a mechanism that allows ASEAN and Russian citizens’ free travel to facilitate trade./.
The dialogues, as part of the on-going 31 st General Assembly of AIPA, were attended by observers Australia , Canada , China , the European parliament, Japan , the Republic of Korea , and Russia .
The AIPA legislators said they want to continue elevating cooperation with the observers and called for to the organisation of more dialogues. They highly valued cooperation and assistance the observers have provided to AIPA.
Discussing the regional and global security, both the observers and AIPA legislators expressed their concerns about the situation in the Korean peninsula and agreed that all issues should be settled via negotiations.
The observers said ASEAN has become their important partner in terms of external relations, noting that ASEAN member countries can play an important role in boosting the process of solving tension in the Korean peninsula due to their geographical nearness.
They expressed their support for the democratisation process in Myanmar with its first democratic election schedule for November.
The dialogue with Australia focused on boosting economic growth and maintaining stability in the region, while with Canada , AIPA members expressed wishes to enhance cooperation in education, suggesting Canada build universities in Southeast Asian countries.
They were also interested in cooperation with Canada in energy security and environmentally friendly solutions where Canada is one of the world’s leaders.
In the dialogue with China , many AIPA members lauded the cooperation and assistance in various fields given by the world’s most populous country and delivered wishes to step up educational cooperation with the country.
Regarding security issues in the region, China stated that disputes between nations should be addressed through talks in the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit.
China affirmed its need to boost tourism industry and said it is keen on investing in infrastructure construction in ASEAN.
The AIPA members said they want to see stronger China-ASEAN cooperation in handling issues relating to water resources of the Mekong river.
China expressed its hope that the AIPA member parliaments will enhance their cooperation with its National People’s Congress, particularly in the sharing of law-making experiences.
Talking with representatives from the European Parliament, the AIPA legislators delivered their hopes for ASEAN countries to benefit from more assistance policies pertaining to economy, infrastructure, environment and healthcare from the European community.
In dialogue with Japan , the AIPA legislators wished to learn Japan ’s experiences in dealing with drugs and natural disasters, preserving natural resources, especially forest resources, as well as in education and training.
They proposed the AIPA members and the Japanese parliament design specific cooperation programmes and share experiences in the making of laws and issues of mutual concern.
Conversing with the AIPA legislators, the Republic of Korea (RoK) expressed its hope to gain ASEAN’s support for the commitment to making the Korean peninsula free from nuclear weapons.
The RoK also expressed its wish that it and ASEAN member countries will bolster their economic cooperation, particularly in the entertainment industry for mutual benefits of all participated sides.
The AIPA legislators spoke highly of the recent progress in the relationship between ASEAN member countries and Russia , citing the establishment of the ASEAN centre in Moscow .
Many talked about the need to step up ASEAN’s ties with Russia in the private economic sector, education, scientific research, technological transfer and food security.
They also proposed the early application of a mechanism that allows ASEAN and Russian citizens’ free travel to facilitate trade./.
