Speakers of Eurasian countries’ parliaments wrap up meeting

Hanoi (VNA) - The third Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments (MSEAP 3) in Antalya, Turkey, closed on October 9 and officially adopted the 17-point Antalya Statement, with National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan leading a Vietnamese high-ranking delegation to the event.

The statement recognised the role played by parliaments of Eurasian countries in creating a frank discussion of issues, and results achieved at conferences in Moscow of Russia and Seoul of the Republic of Korea; and exchanging views on measures to promote parliamentary diplomacy, thus contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in Eurasia.

Recognizing the importance of development in the region, the statement affirmed commitment to promoting joint efforts in legislative support, and exploring possibilities of expanding partnerships in Eurasia for a shared future, inclusive and sustainable growth,  prosperity through promoting cooperation in many areas of common interest, such as logistics services, customs harmonization, multimodal connectivity, infrastructure development, business facilitation and technology transfer on the basis of respect for laws of each country.

The statement also acknowledged the aspirations of countries to encourage the use of new measures to support economic and trade activities through the form of intra-bloc cooperation.

Participants also reaffirmed their support for an open, inclusive, non-discriminatory, transparent and law-abiding multilateral trading system that was set up within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

They also reiterated their commitments to ensure the implementation and enforcement of the existing rules of the WTO and their determination to enhance cooperate to further strengthen the organization while rejecting trade practices that do not conform to WTO rules.

The statement acknowledged the importance of joint efforts made by countries, international organizations and associations of mutual interest in connecting national development strategies and multilateral integration projects.

It also highlighted the important role that parliaments play in giving priority to addressing environmental challenges such as climate change, drought, deforestation, desertification and land degradation, natural disasters, loss of biodiversity and water scarcity in national agendas in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, to promote close cooperation and co-ordination among Eurasian countries, thus improving  adaptability and self-reliance against negative effects caused by these challenges.

The Statement reaffirmed the commitment to resolving conflicts by peaceful measures with no use or threatening to use force, and adhering to universally accepted principles of international law and the UN Charter.

It appreciated the Grand National Assembly of Turkey for the host of the MSEAP 3, and recognized the efforts of the RoK’s National Assembly and the State Duma of Russian for establishing the MSEAP mechanism and co-chairing the meeting; and agreed the Republic of Kazakhstan will host MSEAP 4 in 2019.-VNA