APPF lawmakers devise means for regional cooperation, development issues

The 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26) engaged in an important discussion on regional cooperation and development issues during the third plenary session on January 20 morning.

Overview of the plenary session (Photo: VGP)
Overview of the plenary session (Photo: VGP)

"Climate change and rising sea levels are no longer potential risks, but rather a clear and present danger," Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam stated in his opening keynote address.

"If the sea level rises 1 metre, roughly 40% of the Mekong River Delta will be underwater. Current Vietnamese rice production in the region is at 12 million tonnes per year (export of six million tonnes), roughly 10% – 12% of our population will be directly impacted, with a loss of 10% of GDP," he added.

The Deputy PM called on every country in the region to develop a legal framework, systems of regulations, policies and priority resources to respond to climate change. "We must make it so that all of society understands and start from what seems like small and simple acts to tasks that require technology and major resources, such as gradual reduction in the use of fossil fuels and the development of renewable, clean energy with the aim of developing a low carbon economy and fostering green growth," he said.

Speaking of resources for sustainable development, Deputy PM Dam suggested that the APPF parliaments formulate legal systems that clearly specify the rights and responsibilities of organisations and individuals; give priority to resources for implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); mainstream SDG issues into public expenditure programmes; and strengthen private investments and public private partnerships for SDGs.

The Deputy PM later emphasised the importance of cooperation among parliaments as the legislative bodies have the final say in many pressing issues across all nations.

He also lauded the role of the APPF which has proven its relevance in regional issues, through promoting reforms to better adapt to changing regional and global developments, and continuing to build on parliamentary diplomacy to supplement the effective implementation of cooperation programmes with other regional mechanisms, including APEC.

The third plenary session addressed three key dimensions of regional cooperation, namely climate change response, resources for sustainable development, and culture-tourism cooperation.

Representing the Vietnamese delegation, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu proposed that the lawmakers promote the APPF’s role in assisting the implementation of work items under the national programmes on responding to climate change; strengthening the development of policies and international law and monitor law enforcement related to climate change; whilst reserving priority for the allocation of resources and funding that responds to climate change in economic development and major national investment projects.

NA Vice Chairman Luu also urged the APPF to promote international cooperation in disaster preparedness and increase dialogue, information and experience sharing in promoting the implementation of the Paris Agreement in the Asia-Pacific regiion.

Senator Loren B. Legarda, Chairperson of the Philippines’ Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and Senate Committee on Climate Change, urged the parliaments to ensure that the policies are issued along with proper budgets and inspections so that they would be effective in alleviating climate change impacts in line with the Paris Agreement.

She suggests that the region works to turn itself from an area vulnerable to climate change into being self-reliant against natural disasters via scientific research, and cooperation in finance, technology transfer, experience sharing, and capacity building.

She said the Asia-Pacific should build a common legal framework on climate change to strengthen regional commitments in the arena.

Stephen Patrick John, Member of Australia’s Parliament, said that the Australian Government supports the APEC 2017 declaration on sustainable development and the promotion of public awareness on the role of tourism in boosting growth.

Noting that most of the five biggest markets of Australia’s tourism sector are located in the Asia-Pacific region, he said that the country backs the opening of directs air routes, and developing tourism infrastructure.

He stressed the importance of deploying measures to protect future tourism sites and specific mechanisms for tourism management.

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