At the opening ceremony (Photo: VNA)Phnom Penh (VNA) – The 8th Plenary Session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) opened in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on December 9 under the theme of “Promoting Peace, Reconciliation and Dialogue in Asia”.
The meeting has attracted delegates from 19 regional countries, observers and international organisations. The Vietnamese delegation is led by Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Affairs Tran Van Hang.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of the Cambodian National Assembly Heng Samrin spoke highly of the APA’s achievements and development in the past two decades with strong support from regional countries.
He expressed his belief that this historical meeting will contribute to ending violence and catastrophes in the region and the world at large.
Asian parliamentarians gathered at the event to build a harmonious region through peaceful measures, the top Cambodian legislator highlighted.
During the three-day event, the regional lawmakers will discuss and exchange views on political, economic and social affairs, among others.
On December 8, the APA meeting participants met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni.
The APA was born in 2006 at the seventh session of the Association of Asian Parliamentary for Peace. APA has currently 42 full member parliaments, including Azerbaijan as the new member, and 17 observers. The APA plenary session is held every year in December. The APA president is elected from the member parliaments for a two-year term of office.-VNA
