Inside ASEAN Column

Column: Inside ASEAN

Translated by: Bureau of Foreign Languages

The National Assembly of Thailand prepares to host 
the 40^th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA)

The National Assembly of Thailand will host the 40^th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) during 25-30 August 2019 at Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok under the theme of “Advancing Parliamentary Partnership for Sustainable Community” chaired by H.E. Mr. Chuan Leekpai, President of the National Assembly as President of the AIPA.

AIPA, with a vision of building peace, stability, prosperity and solidarity within the region, serves as a center of international cooperation. In social and cultural aspects, AIPA holds the commitment in developing the quality of people’s lives. AIPA as a legislative body of ASEAN needs a strong support from the civil sector because a strong parliament will be a solid foundation of democracy. If the parliament can perform its duties with reliability, respectability and integrity, it will create the political stability leading to a sustainable economic and social development. To truly become a people centered and people-oriented community, ASEAN requires all parties’ endeavour and the pushing of justice and the rule of law in a society. In this regard, the representatives of people will be a good intermediary between the people and ASEAN community.

In the discussion of the AIPA-ASEAN Interface on 22 June 2019 during the 34^th ASEAN Summit from 20-23 June 2019 at Bangkok, AIPA proposed the following main issues of the region to ASEAN leaders.

1. Climate change and environment safeguard

2. Narrowing the development gaps

3. Women empowerment and gender equality

4. Terrorism and violent extremism

5. The fourth industrial revolution

6. The code of conduct in South China Sea and maritime security

7. Water-food-energy security nexus within the region, especially in the Greater Mekong Subregion

8. Drugs and human trafficking

9. Strengthening regional cooperation in cultural heritage

On this occasion, ASEAN leaders accepted AIPA’s proposal because all these issues are directly associated. Both the Executive and the Legislature must work together for the utmost benefits of ASEAN Community. One of ASEAN’s success is to be a prototype of regional integration due to the flexibility of interrelationship leading to the friendly settlement of numerous issues. In addition, ASEAN opens the opportunity to all stakeholders, especially grass-roots stakeholders for playing their roles in driving ASEAN. AIPA commits itself to driving the ASEAN Vision 2025 effectively in that the continual success of ASEAN will make ASEAN strong. Moreover, ASEAN has the population of more than 630 million people, leading ASEAN to be the important region of the world. Therefore, the meeting between AIPA Secretariat and the ASEAN Secretariat should be held for close discussion. The parliamentary dimension must be brought in driving ASEAN. ASEAN must be promoted to the public awareness and makes a contribution to the public for stepping towards One Community completely.

The National Assembly of Thailand already hosted the General Assembly of the AIPA for 5 times and succeeded in pushing various policies resulting in the strength of ASEAN at present. For the hosting of the General Assembly of AIPA in 1979 and 1984, the National Assembly of Thailand pushed the solution in Cambodia. Regarding the hosting of the General Assembly of AIPA in 1991, the National Assembly of Thailand pushed the building of peace in the region continually and promoted AIPA’s roles in strengthening ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). On the occasion of the hosting of the General Assembly of AIPA in 1996, the National Assembly of Thailand brought various issues and challenges in contexts of globalization within the region to discuss with AIPA members for changing the region’s crisis at that time to be the opportunity of wealth and prosperity and supporting sustainable stability, peace and security of ASEAN in every dimension. For the hosting of the General Assembly of AIPA in 2001, the National Assembly of Thailand introduced the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy in solving poverty in the region. This philosophy is a guideline in solving economic and social problems for all levels. In addition, various countries could apply this philosophy through the exchange of information and continual development of personnel.

At each General Assembly, various issues are presented to solve regional issues and adjusting AIPA’s strategies and roles towards the legislative institution in the region which can reach and reflect people’s demand through the more concrete implementation. AIPA promotes the legal harmonization in member countries for supporting the implementation of ASEAN’s obligations, stimulates the Executive and the Legislature of member countries to bring resolutions from the General Assembly towards practices more concretely. Moreover, AIPA will move forward as an important partner of ASEAN in supporting the development in many fields of ASEAN Community. AIPA also builds cooperation through AIPA-ASEAN Interface Meeting during ASEAN Summit which is a discussion in the highest level of ASEAN for building the unity in driving ASEAN Community to have the stability, prosperity and sustainability further.

The agendas of the 40^th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) are as follows:

1. Promoting Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women in ASEAN

2. Report of the ASEAN-AIPA Interface at the 34^th ASEAN Summit

3. Promoting Parliamentary Diplomacy to Move Forward the ASEAN Community

4. Fostering Inclusive Economic Development in ASEAN

5. ASEAN Cooperation to Prepare for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

6. Report of 2^nd AIPA Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs (AIPACODD) Meeting

7. Enhancing the Quality of Life of Older Persons and Road Safety in ASEAN

8. Collection and Exchange of Information of Laws of AIPA

Furthermore, AIPA will have a meeting and discussion with observer countries, namely Australia, Canada, Belarus, the People’s Republic of China, European Parliament, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Russian Federation and Timor-Leste under the agenda of Partnership for Good Regulatory Practices. The final day of the General Assembly of AIPA, H.E. Mr. Chuan Leekpai, President of the National Assembly as President of AIPA will transfer the office of the President of AIPA to Chairperson of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam which will perform the duties of the President of AIPA from 10 October 2019 - 30 September 2020. In addition, Mr. Isra Sunthornvut, Secretary General of AIPA will complete his term and transfer the office of Secretary General of AIPA to the Secretary General of AIPA from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam which will hold office from 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2022.

Source: The Secretariat of the House of Representatives. The National Assembly of Thailand hosts the 40^th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) during 25-30 August 2019 at Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok.
Retrieved on 8 August 2019 from https://www.parliament.go.th/ewtadmin/ewt/aipa2019/ewt_dl_link.php?nid=398&filename=AIPA40