An Asean representative together with Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith (centre) and Lao National Assembly President Xaysomphone Phomvihane (right) at the opening ceremony of AIPA 2024 in Vientiane. Image from Vientiane Times/ANN
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): The 45th General Assembly of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) kicked off on Saturday in Vientiane to forge collective efforts to support the bloc’s pursuit of shared goals and deliver tangible benefits to its people.
Delivering his opening speech, President of the National Assembly of Laos, Xaysomphone Phomvihane, emphasised the need to enhance cooperation among the legislative bodies to pursue common goals amid regional and global instability.
“The regional and global landscape is rapidly evolving, with complexities and unpredictability presenting both opportunities and challenges,” he told top legislative representatives from the 10-member regional bloc and external guests.
Some of the key challenges set to be raised during the General Assembly include regional conflicts, natural disasters, climate change, and economic and financial difficulties.
“In light of these circumstances, development cooperation, and the maintenance of peace, stability, security, and prosperity remain the shared goals of our people,” said Dr Xaysomphone, who is also President of AIPA.
The annual gathering provides a platform for the Parliaments of Asean member states to exchange views and perspectives on advancing the bloc’s shared goals, charting future directions, and implementing actions to achieve the collective aspirations of AIPA and Asean.
Participants at this year’s General Assembly shared views under the theme “The Role of Parliaments in Enhancing Connectivity and Inclusive Growth of Asean”.
The theme aligns closely with Laos’ Asean Chairmanship theme this year, “Asean: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.”
This alignment underscores Asean’s commitment to advancing the Asean Community Vision 2025, strengthening regional connectivity and resilience, and fostering infrastructure development alongside improvements in regulatory frameworks for transportation, telecommunications, energy cooperation, and other critical sectors.
“These initiatives facilitate trade, investment, productivity, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges,” Dr Xaysomphone said, adding that they also promote economic integration, reduce development disparities, and cultivate a resilient and open Asean Economic Community.
He hailed the strong engagement between AIPA and Asean through established mechanisms, including Asean Leaders’ Interface with AIPA representatives.
During this General Assembly, numerous committee meetings are being held for in-depth discussions on political, economic, social, women, youth, and organisational matters and on relevant resolutions.
Additionally, dialogues with AIPA observer parliaments will allow exploring future directions for enhancing cooperation, addressing challenges, and supporting Asean’s overarching goals of connectivity and inclusive growth.
Meetings with development partners of AIPA from various international organisations will also present an opportunity to exchange views and experiences, enhancing AIPA’s role and capacity, including those of its member parliaments.
In his speech, Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith expressed confidence that interactions and their outcomes would strengthen cooperation and define the future direction for AIPA’s work, contributing to building the Asean community to become more connected and stronger, thus bringing tangible benefits to the people of Asean.
The Lao leader informed guests at the opening ceremony that Laos just successfully hosted the 44th and 45th Asean Summits and related meetings earlier this month, having now chaired the bloc for the third time.
With cooperation and mutual support of the Asean family and external partners, President Thongloun believes the 45th AIPA General Assembly will also succeed. - Vientiane Times/ANN
