National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (Photo: VNA)

The APPF was established in 1993 to build trust and enhance dialogue between regional parliamentarians. The Forum gathers 27 members: Australia, Cambodia, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam.

Vietnam’s contributions to APPF

The Vietnamese National Assembly considers the annual APPF meeting an important activity in its foreign policy. Since becoming an APPF member in January 1995, the Vietnamese NA has put forward proposals and recommendations to step up coordination between parliaments and governments of Asia-Pacific countries and promote the adoption of a regional resolution on climate change and the establishment of a joint cooperation mechanism in the region.

“Vietnam praises and supports the forum’s goals, considering it an important channel to promote dialogue on politics and security issues and common interests, build trust, and boost cooperation for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. The Vietnamese National Assembly works closely with the APPF and parliaments of other countries to realize our vision and resolutions,” National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said. 

Vietnam hosted the APPF meeting in 2005 and 2018. At the 2005 forum, Vietnam proposed enhancing cooperation to overcome consequences of earthquake and tsunami.

At 2018 APPF, the Hanoi Declaration was adopted, setting forth a new vision for parliamentary ties towards 2030. At the meeting, for the first time, the APPF Female Parliamentarians Conference became an official, regular mechanism of the forum. The 2018 meeting also boosted the partnership between APPF and APEC to realize Asia-Pacific people’s aspiration for a region of peace and development.

“The forum’s success marked a new milestone in APPF development and shows Vietnam’s political commitment to realizing the vision of regional cooperation,” said Cambodia’s Senate Vice President Tep Ngorn. 

Vietnam pledges more contributions to parliamentary cooperation

At the opening ceremony of the ongoing APPF 27, Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan will deliver a speech as the Chair of APPF 26. Vietnamese parliamentarians will join in discussions on politics, security, and economic cooperation and help to draft resolutions, a joint statement, and a Siem Riep Declaration.