SUMMARY REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING - 17Th APPF LAOS 11-15 January 2009, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR

THE 17th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM (APPF) was held on 11-15 January 2009, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR and Indonesia participated with 7 delegates from DPR –RI ( the House of Representatives of RI ) and 5 delegates from the DPD RI ( Senate ) as followed :

1. Hon. Mrs. Maryamah Nugraha , as the head of delegation
2. Hon. Mr. Abdillah Toha
3. H.E. Dr. Laode Ida
4. Hon. Prof. Dr. Mrs. Wila Chandrawila Supriadi
5. Hon. Mr. Pupung Suharis Soegito
6. Hon. Mr. Dr. Hakim Sorimuda Pohan
7. Hon. Mr. Soeharno P.A.
8. Hon. Mr. Abdi Sumaithi
9. Hon. Mr. Nyoman Rudana
10. Hon. Mr. Malik Raden
11. Hon. Mr. Muchtar Naim
12. Hon. Mrs. Nafisah Sahal

13. Mr. Tatang Sutharsa, SH - Secretary
14. Dr. Genius Umar - Secretary
15. Mr. Ibnu Hadi - Advisor

DPD - RI delegates with Laos representative ( 4 th from left)

The Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum Executive Committee Meeting was held on Sunday 11 January 2009. Participants included representatives from the 8 of the 9 Executive Committee member countries, namely: Canada, Chile, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, New Zealand and Singapore.

The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Thongsing Thammavong, President of the APPF and President of the National Assembly of Lao PDR.

The Executive Committee resolved that:

1. The agenda of the 17th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, as set out in annex 1 be approved;

2. The Programme of Activities for the 17th Annual Meeting of the Asia- Pacific Parliamentary Forum, as set out in annex 2 be approved;

3. Hon. Dr. Saysomphone Phomvihane, Vice-President of the National Assembly of Lao PDR, and Hon. Dr. Kukeo Akhamontri, Vice-Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee be Vice-Chairs of the plenary sessions;

4. Prof. Dr. Boungnong Boupha, Member of the National Assembly of Lao PDR, be the Chairperson of the Drafting Committee;

5. The report on ARF 2008 will be presented by Singapore during the 2nd Plenary Session on 13th January 2009;

6. The draft resolutions submitted by the national delegations to the 17th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, as set out in annex 3, be approved;

7. The time limits for speakers at the plenary sessions be 7 minutes for speeches and 5 minutes for participants in the open debate;

8. The Drafting Committee be created, and the necessary working groups be set up

9. Singapore host the 18th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum from 17-23 January 2010

10. The question of the enlargement of the APPF Executive Committee’s organization be further considered at the 18th APPF Annual Meeting; the APPF membership, observer status and rules of procedures be discussed on item IV: APPF matters in details later; and the Executive Committee may convene again during the meeting as required.

Cultural night - Welcome dinner


AGENDA MEETING OF 17TH APPF LAOS

Introduction of delegations
Adoption of decisions of the Executive Committee

I. Economic and Trade Matters ( 4 hrs duration )
1. Global Financial Crisis and APPF Effective Response
2. APEC 2008 in Peru: Report by Peru
3. WTO 2008
4. Sustainable Tourism
5. Energy Security
6. Food Security
7. Others

II. Political and Security Matters ( 3 hrs duration )
1. Review of the Political and Security Situation in the Asia Pacific Region and
in the World
a. ARF 2008 in Singapore : Report by Singapore
b, Peace and Stability in North East Asia
c. Peace and Stability in South East Asia
d. Middle-East Peace Process
e. Cluster Munitions
f. Terrorism

2. Others

III. Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation ( 2 : 30 hrs duration )
1. Parliamentary Capacity Building
2. Handling Climate Change and Environmental Issue
3. Natural Disaster Management
4. Poverty Reduction
5. Gender Issues in Parliament
6. Others

IV. APPF Matters ( 3 hrs duration )
1. APPF in Future (Membership, Observer Status, Rules of Procedures)
2. Date and Venue of APPF’s 18th Annual Meeting
3. Others

Adoption of Resolutions and the Joint Communiqué

With Senator Nyoman Rudana

JOINT COMMUNIQUE OF THE 17TH APPF MEETING - LAOS 11-15 January 2009

At the invitation of the Lao National Assembly, the 17th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) was held in Vientiane, the capital of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic from 11-15th January 2009 with participants from 22 member parliaments, 1 observer country (Brunei Darussalam) and 1 special guest (Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)). The list of participants is attached.

The Executive Committee convened its meeting on the 11th January 2009. The report of the Executive Committee meeting is attached. The inaugural ceremony was held on the 12th January 2009. His Excellency Mr. Thongsing Thammavong, President of the 17th APPF and President of the Lao National Assembly delivered the opening speech in which he extended a warm welcome to all participants and declared the 17th Annual Meeting of the APPF officially open.

Honorable Mr. Yasuhiro Nakasone, APPF Honorary President’s message was delivered at the Meeting by Mr. Yanagimoto, Acting Head of the Japanese Delegation, and Mr. Lindsay Tisch, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of New Zealand addressed the participants. Opening remarks were also made by Mr. Anders Johnsson, the IPU Secretary General.

Delegations were honored and pleased to have had the opportunity to call on His Excellency Mr. Choummaly Sayasone, President of the Lao PDR, and His Excellency Mr. Bouasone Bouphavanh, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR.

At the plenary session on economic and trade issues, delegates discussed a number of topics and drafted resolutions on overcoming the global financial crisis, n energy security, the world economic situation and raising the level of egotiations of the Doha Round, sustainable tourism, food security, trade and capital flows within the Asia Pacific.


At the plenary session on political and security issues, delegates discussed a number of topics and drafted resolutions on political security in the Asia Pacific region, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, strengthening of peace and security in South East Asia, cluster munitions, terrorism and the Middle East peace process. The delegation from Singapore presented a report on the recent ASEAN Regional Forum 2008.

At the plenary session on inter-parliamentary cooperation matters, delegates discussed a range of topics and tabled resolutions on parliamentary capacity building, the importance of action in relation to climate change and environmental issues, natural disaster management, poverty reduction and gender issues on parliaments.

At the plenary session on APPF matters, participants discussed a number of specific topics regarding the future of APPF, and agreed to convene the 18th APPF Annual Meeting from 17th – 23rd January, 2010 in Singapore at the invitation of the Parliament of Singapore. The Japanese delegation took the floor and introduced the proposal made by the Honorary President of the APPF, the Honorable Mr. Yasuhiro Nakasone, that the Japanese Diet will host the APPF-20 Annual Meeting in 2012 which will commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the APPF and consider the future role of the APPF.

The 17th Annual Meeting of the APPF adopted 16 resolutions on the aforementioned issues. These resolutions are attached. The meeting thanked the drafting committee for its efforts in developing a package of resolutions and the joint communiqué which represent the meaningful outcome of the meeting.

The 17th Annual Meeting of the APPF expressed its high appreciation andgratitude to the Lao National Assembly for its organization, hospitality and arrangements which made the 17th Annual Meeting of the APPF a success. Special thanks go in particular to His Excellency Mr. Thongsing Thammavong , the President of the 17th Annual Meeting of the APPF and The President of Lao National Assembly, for his excellent guidance, and to the Lao delegation and all the staff of the secretariat for their hard work, thus bringing the current meeting to a successful conclusion
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