Siem Reap, January 16, 2019 –The 27th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-27), held under the theme “Strengthening Parliamentary Partnership for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development” was wrapped up after three days of lively debates in a friendly atmosphere of mutual solidarity and cooperation. 
Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly of Cambodia and President of APPF-27, told the Closing Ceremony of APPF-27 in Siem Reap provincial city this evening.
This historic APPF-27 event in Siem Reap has offered an excellent platform for all honourable delegates to generate practical ideas and long-term visions for a key strategy in building the Asia-Pacific as a region of peace, stability, harmony and sustainable development in response to the aspirations of all nations, he said.
“We strongly support all initiatives which aim to settle common problems through peaceful means and avoiding any military confrontation, especially to boost the role of parliaments in reconciliation and maintaining peace in the region and the world,” he stressed.
The adopted resolutions address key regional issues such as maintaining peace, building mutual trust, putting a strong focus on women and girls, combatting terrorism and cybercrime, mitigating climate change, respects of human rights, promoting diversity of cultural expression and tourism – and especially expanding partnership cooperation on free trade and investment in the region, the APPF-27 president added.
Samdech Heng Samrin continued that peace and stability are indeed a precondition for national construction and development, and a country can enjoy neither development nor prosperity if it faces war and instability.
“Building peace is no easy task – and maintaining long-term peace and security is even harder. Accomplishing such a noble mission requires us to settle issues through peaceful means, mutual trust and adhering strictly to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states with equal footing based on the principles of the United Nations Charter,” he said.
Peace and development must go hand in hand, he underlined, pointing out that a country that enjoys peace without development cannot be sustained. We therefore need to further strengthen closed and comprehensive cooperation, notably in the areas of diplomacy, economy, trade and investment, science and technology as well as social and cultural development.
“All our economies depend on each other for inclusive and prosperous economic growth. In essence, trade and investment is the main engine for growth. Therefore, we need to continue support and implement the principle of multilateral and open trade,” he said. “At the same time, we need to make greater efforts in promoting the status of women and girls through the empowerment of women in decision-making, vocational training, access to technical knowledge and new technology. We should further deepen cooperation among member parliaments by establishing new mechanisms to provide opportunities for women in decision-making, especially ensuring gender equality to realise the Sustainable Development Goals.”
At the end of the event, Samdech Heng Samrin handed over the APPF flag to H.E. Scott Ryan, President of the Senate of Australia, as incoming host in 2020.
By C. Nika
