AIPA to Promote the Strengthening of Multilateral System

AIPA will further promote the strengthening of multilateral system to be more open, inclusive, and rules-based as ASEAN reinforce its multi-stakeholder, multi-layered partnerships and cross-sectoral collaboration to ensure that the ASEAN Community is sustainable, inclusive and resilient.

The remarks were made by Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly of Cambodia while presiding over the official opening ceremony of the 43rd General Assembly of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

Samdech Heng Samrin, also rotating President of AIPA, said promoting peace and tolerance at the national, regional and global levels is a never-ending quest, and our parliamentary diplomacy should continue to play a vital role in this regard.

“The inaugural ceremony of the 43rd General Assembly is being held in a peaceful and calm atmosphere in Phnom Penh. Yet the world in which we now live is different. Our region, ASEAN, and the world face mounting challenges and pressures from all sides,” he continued. “These include heightened geopolitical rivalries, a weakened multilateral system amid signs of economic fragmentation, tensions over Taiwan and the Korean peninsula, maritime disputes and the political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, which have seriously affected many countries worldwide. In addition, the conflict in Ukraine has added another layer of hardship to the issues of global energy and food security.”

To realise a sustainable ASEAN, Samdech Heng Samrin underlined, our collective efforts are required to bring about a recovery that promotes factors such as climate resilience, clean and renewable energy transition, green investment, and green and fair finance. These can be achieved through an environment, social, and governance focus that further attracts foreign direct investment to our region.

Legislative bodies must play an important role in promoting new models of development, balanced between environmental protection, economic growth, inclusiveness, and sustainability, he added.

Themed “Advancing Together for Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient ASEAN”, the 43rd AIPA General Assembly is taking place from Nov. 20-25.

 

 

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press