Parliamentary delegates from 39 countries at the third annual
meeting of the
Association of
Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP) called Wednesday for
stronger parliamentary cooperation for co-development among Asian
countries.
China's top legislator Li Peng was elected president of the third
annual meeting of the AAPP.
During the general debate, participants discussed a number of
topics including multi-polarization and world peace, economic
globalization and the developing countries, international
cooperation and the establishment of new international political
and economic orders.
The debate was jointly presided over by Li Peng and the
vice-president Norodom Ranarith. A total of 12 delegation heads or
deputy heads took the floor.
The delegates extended their congratulations to Li Peng, saying
that the AAPP, under Li's leadership, will reach new heights.
A
common concern about the tension in the Middle East was expressed.
The delegates hoped that the Israel-Palestine issue could be
solved, and the two peoples could enjoy a happy and peaceful life
as soon as possible.
A
delegate with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said
the DPRK is confident of a gradual reunification of the Korean
Peninsula through peaceful means, with the common efforts of the
two sides and the international community.
Delegates from Bahrain, Bangladesh and Cyprus spoke highly of the
conference theme of Peace and Development, saying that the widening
gap between the rich and the poor has forged the biggest obstacle
to world peace.
Karim AL-Shakar, the ambassador of Bahrain to China, said that most
Asian countries are now confronting tough issues including poverty
and illiteracy, which are left over by years of colonization or
semi-colonization.
Barrister Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar, speaker of the Bangladesh
parliament, said that the establishment of the AAPP in 1999 offered
a valuable opportunity for Asian countries with different cultural
and historical backgrounds to gather and work for their
co-progress.
Globalization means more challenges than opportunities to
developing countries in Asia, and demands much closer ties among
Asian countries, said Sircar.
On
international affairs, delegates unanimously called for a respect
for the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant resolutions,
to establish a more justified international political order against
terrorism, separatism and racism.
Deputy Speaker Mohsen Armin, of Iran, said that international
community should make a clear-cut definition of terrorism and no
parallel should be made between national liberation activities and
terrorism activities.
Nicolas Fattouche, deputy head of the National Assembly of Lebanon,
said that peace is a premise to the world's sustained development,
and no countries are allowed to infringe upon the sovereignty of
others by making the war against terrorism an excuse.
Delegates also elaborated their views on human rights. Norodom
Ranarith, president of the Cambodian National Assembly, called for
more protection of the interests of women and children.
Delegates said that parliamentary organizations of Asian countries
should explore more channels for deeper collaboration and better
echo the needs of the grassroots.
Delegates from Indonesia, Iraq and Kiribati also made speeches
during the debate.
(Xinhua News
Agency April 17, 2002)