Brunei Officially Admitted Into AIPA

Written by Borneo Bulletin
Thursday, 06 August 2009 08:56

Bandar Seri Begawan - Pattaya. The Brunei Legislative Council was officially admitted to the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) yesterday during the first plenary session of the 30" AIPA session that was convened in Pattaya, Thailand, according to media reports.

Leading Brunei Darussalam's delegation was the Speaker of the Legislative Council, Yang Amat Muria Pengiran Indera Mahkota Pengiran Anak Dr Kern aluddin Al-Haj.

The Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) has played an important role in bringing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) closer to the people, providing them with great opportunities for development, the Thai Prime Minister said.

Abhisit Vejjajiva made the remark while welcoming participants and guests to the 30th General Assembly of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-30), which convened in the Thai city of Pattaya on August 4.

The participants included legislators from the eight AIPA members being Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand while the special guests were the General Secretaries of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the East Timor Parliament, and Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan.

In his welcome note, the Thai PM emphasised the importance of the AIPA-30 as it was the first to be held after Asean ratified its Charter.

He underlined the need to further boost co-operation between the law-making bodies and the governments of Asean, in realisation of the group's plans, and to create a legal foundation for the effective implementation of the set goals.

In his opening speech, the AIPA-30 Chair, Chai Chidchob, who is the Thai Parliament President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, agreed that AIPA needs to take an active part in implementing the Asean bloc's goals and building the Asean Community, firmly based on the three pillars of politics, security, economy, and culture-society by 2015.

In doing so, APA should push up efforts to promptly ratify and implement Asean's economic co-operation agreements, further promote its role in harmonising the group's legal documents as well as work to consolidate and enhance solidarity, friendship and co-operation in the bloc.

The AIPA-30 opening session was then followed by the first plenary session, where the Brunei Legislative Council was officially admitted to AIPA.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin