The 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26), which is taking place in Hanoi from January 18-21, will have an important mission of orienting member parliaments towards a shared future of bringing practical benefits for their countries and people. 

Logo of the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26)

Do Manh Hung, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Office and head of the subcommittee for APPF-26 information and communication has stated in an article on the purpose and meaning of the forum.

The Vietnamese National Assembly (NA)’s hosting of the annual event aims to proactively realise the country’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification , multilateralisation of relations, active integration into global economy, maintaining peaceful and stable environment, creating favourable conditions to the national construction and protection as well as strengthening Vietnam’s position and prestige in the international arena. 

Also, the organisation of the event is a highlight in the NA’s foreign affairs, making significant contributions to the nation’s diplomatic achievements, he noted.

This is the second time Vietnam has hosted the APPF’s annual meeting after the 13th version in Quang Ninh province, in January 2005, showing the Vietnamese NA’s role and responsibility in the APPF while popularising images of the NA as a renovated, dynamic, active and responsible one in the eyes of international friends.

The APPF was established on March 15, 1993, with the purpose of building trust among parliaments in the Asia-Pacific via the enhancement of dialogues between regional parliamentarians, thus contributing to regional peace, sustainability and prosperity.

The forum has become an important inter-parliamentary forum which gathers 27 member parliaments: 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 RoK, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam.

Particularly, in the context of deeper globalisation, together with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the APPF has affirmed its role as a crucial dialogue and cooperation mechanism among regional nations.-VNA