Laos to host the 17th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum 2009

(KPL) The Vice President of the Lao National Assemble, Dr. Xaysomphone Phomvihane, representing the Lao PDR, has announced the acception of Laos to host the 17th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum in 2009.

Dr. Xaysomphone made his announcement at the recently ended 16th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), held on 20-24 January, in Oakland, New Zealand.
The participation of Lao National Assembly was in response to the inviation of the President of New Zealand Parliament and APPF, Ms. Margaret Wilson.
The forum drew representatives from 21 APPF member countries and nine observation countries...more info>>

The meeting adopted join-statement and 23 resolutions on politics, socio-economic affairs, and the c-operation between APPF member countries in the future.
The meeting also raised Korean penilsular, mines, and the situation in Middle-East, Iraq and South Asia.

Discussed at the meeting were also the negative impacts of climate change to the sustainable development, the impacts of energy sortage to both international and regional trade development.

Resolutions on preparing for response to the threats of natural disaster, epedemic diseases and the promotion of women’s participation in economic and politic areas, the management of fisheries in south Asia, water resource management, and human rights were also approved at the meeting.

Dr. Xaysomphone also paid a courtesy visit to the President of New Zealand Parliament and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. The Lao delegation also met foreigners to promote culture, tourism and investment in Laos.

Source: kpl