Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia on July 16 said that the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Caucus will be pivotal in driving the region’s peace and stability, with lawmakers at the forefront.
Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Ramli Mohd Nor, who attended the 16th AIPA Caucus in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, said AIPA will remain an integral part of the 10-member grouping that sets the regional agenda for trade, security, and community building.
According to Ramli, within the framework of ASEAN, AIPA will remain an important mechanism because each country’s parliament will decide on laws, policies and way forward and this will have an impact on ASEAN.
He said this caucus includes discussions, methods and resolutions that can be accepted by the entire ASEAN community.
Discussions focused on key areas including strengthening parliamentary actions for inclusive peace, addressing current risks and challenges through cooperation between parliaments, and bolstering parliament's contribution to regional and global peace and security.
He emphasised that dialogue is important to avoid conflicts with neighbours, within ASEAN or outside ASEAN.
One important issue in the meetings was that ASEAN recognised women’s contribution in the bloc, in any issue, be it in politics, governmental positions or executive posts.
The 16th AIPA Caucus brought together parliamentarians from ASEAN member states and observer parliaments. The members approved the cancus report and documents which will be submitted to the General Assembly - the highest body of AIPA.
The 46th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary General Assembly is slated to be held in Kuala Lumpur in September./.
