All parliaments in the Asia-Pacific region have been urged to play a more active role in the parliamentary diplomatic sector, emphasising mutual respect, at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF31). The event was hosted by the Filipinocongress in Manila from November 23-26.

The forum adopted ten resolutions and a joint communique, according to a November 26 press release. 

The ten resolutions covered combating transnational crimes, women’s participation and leadership, gender and sustainable development goals, critical infrastructure, universal health care, climate action, education and culture, the Korean Peninsula, regional peace and stability, and human capital development and inclusive growth.

Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, speaker of the Filipino house of representatives, emphasised the significance of alliance and cooperation among member parliaments, ‘especially with the ever-widening array of challenges confronting the region’.

“Collectively, we were able to discuss and deliberate substantially on a whole wide range of urgent regional concerns. And in the end, we were able to adopt a worthwhile resolution that can help our region attain much higher growth and stability," he said.

The statement added that the delegates stressed the need to enhance cooperative efforts and collaborative solutions to issues vital for enhancing regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Cheam Yeap, first vice-president of the Cambodian National Assembly (NA), led the country’s parliamentary delegation to attend the meeting, held under the theme “Resilient Partnerships for Peace, Prosperity and Sustainability”.

The NA statement said that the Kingdom’s delegation proposed several motions covering economics, trade, Asia-Pacific cooperation and women parliamentarian members.