tinko,

My point of view is to congratulate all Lao people with the Lao PDR leadership to host this important international event and is proud of the Lao PDR's rising reputation in international arena.

Tomorrow morning, I will upload all related photos of the event for you

Cheers

dkj



Read more update from Don Chanh Palace of 17th APPF Meeting in Vientiane

Economic-Trade and Politic and Security Issues were raised during the three first plenary sessions

Today- the 2nd and 3rd Plenary Sessions and Drafting Committee Meeting is focusing in considering draft resolutions 

With the initial success of the first plenary session on Economic and Trade Matters yesterday, the Forum resumed today with focus on two important areas: Political and Security Matters and Inter-parliamentary cooperation.

On the Economic and Trade Matters

Yesterday, the plenary has started with discussion of economic and trade matters. Touching upon the economic challenges the region faces in 2008, the delegates have stressed the need to increasing regional cooperative action to mitigate the global financial crisis and economic recession, which are adversely impacting social and economic achievements of the region. The economic downturn is threatening the sustainable development in the region, the social stability, democratic achievements and the progress of achieving the UN Millennium Goals.

Indonesian delegates deliberated the need for raising the level of trade and capital flow within the Asia Pacific region, including the need to move for stronger economic integration through FTA/RFTA negotiation.  Mexican delegation urged the members to search for means for strengthening the region’s economic competitiveness and human resource development for this goal, prioritization in some key sectors. Other delegates in their deliberations also addressed the need of cooperation between developed and developing economies to solve problems, since APPF diversity is seen also as a stake of the region and moreover, in coping with the economic challenges, the region needs to approach the solutions in a systematic and comprehensive way which dealt with not only measures for stabilized and sustainable economic development, but also with measures to tackle social disparities which may result from the economic down turn. To this end, other non economic tools should be taken in consideration as necessary such as administrative simplification, fighting against corruption and terrorism to boot the regional trade and development in a stable and peaceful manner.

On the Political and Security Matters

The delegates at the 2nd plenary session have deliberated a number of issues which will be incorporated in resolutions adopted by the final plenary. Lao delegate approached the need for regional efforts in nurturing peace and security in the region by proposing South East Asia sub-regional action plan. This refers to the call on ASEAN APPF members to implement the current political mechanism in the ASEAN Charter, ARF, the ASEAN Vientiane Action Program, which represent the spirit to solve conflicts not by the use of force but by dialogue based on mutual trust und understanding.

The Forum also stressed its strong voice against violence and use of force to solve conflicts which are demonstrated in the Gaza and in some other part of the region and the globe, the participants expressed views and asked for resolution of the Forum to condemn those actions and encourage parliamentarians to be engaged to stop those actions and help finding peaceful resolution. 

Comprehensive Approach

Russian delegate witnessed the link between economic integration issues and social, political and security issues which should be seen as fundament for strategic and sustainable growth. He argues that the multifaceted interdependence is visible in the region due to the global economic integration and hence, any new situation such as the global economic recess may result in multifold impact to the other areas of sustainable growth. Thus, the countries in the region shall cooperate to approach the political and security issues in a strategic and comprehensive ways from elimination of threat caused by terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to threat caused by Food and Energy security crisis, corrupted practices and other severe impact on poverty in developing countries.

The head of delegation of Vietnam in his deliberation speech yesterday at the plenary session also addressed the need for regional cooperation in finding comprehensive package of resolutions in all areas of Politics-Security, Economic-Trade, Inter-parliamentary cooperation and fostering APPF effectiveness to assist the economies in the Asia and Pacific and called on APPF members to support the 2008 APEC summit declaration in Peru for New Commitment for Development of the Asia-Pacific, including strengthening regional economic integration, structural adjustment, improvement of food safety and harmonized settlement of the social problems arose in the globalization process. 

Also with the comprehensive approach to security issue, the Japanese delegates raised concern on climate change and environment as the “potentially the most severe challenge” to the mankind nowadays. The APPF has passed a number of resolutions dealing with this challenge; however the commitments of countries in the word are still low. Japan delegation has proposed a resolution to call on APPF members the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit with the goal to achieve at least 50% of reduction of global emission by 2050 and urge the members countries to set fair national emission reduction targets and promote technology transfer to developing countries to help reducing emission; strengthening cooperation to assist disaster risk reduction for the less developed and developing countries and small island developing states which are the most vulnerable to the impact of climate changes.

What come in the next days?

In the afternoon of the 2nd day, at the plenary session, the participants will continue to address issues of inter-parliamentary cooperation, which are related to gender issues in parliaments, elimination of violence against women.

Delegates work in the Drafting Committee today and tomorrow to review, merge and improve draft of resolutions submitted by national delegations.

The press community is advised to follow especially in the morning of January the 15th the resolutions and Join communiqué as the outcome of the Forum which shall be adopted by the final plenary session in the afternoon session of January 15.  

In the following days, the plenary session will work on the issue of APPF future related to the preparation for the next APPF meeting (probably in Singapore), rule and procedure of APPF, strengthening relation of APPF with other bodies in the region for more integrated development of the region.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/appflaos/

More photos of the event will be uploaded later

dkj

TSP wrote:

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Yes, all are beautiful, indeed. Thanks for sharing all photos.

Having looked at all photos, I remember the Lao saying: " We Lao people are poor, but we do not lack of heart". 

Some of our guests have never seen such a warm welcome, probably.
No doubt, some of our guests might get a feeling how come communist people can have such a good hospitality.


" Lao Lanexang, Lao Lane NamJai "
Good saying ai TSP i  am proud of our lao poeple.  you are right''We Lao people are poor, but we do not lack of heart". 

 Thankyou very much ai DKJ.
 

-- Edited by TSP at 13:34, 2009-01-14

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dkj wrote:

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 who is this guy?  very lucky to have a chance to sing on this very important event. can you tell us ai DKJ.