APPF-26 adopts Ha Noi Declaration

According to the Declaration, the APPF has relentlessly pursued common goals of promoting dialogue and cooperation for peace, stability, prosperity in the region over the past 25 years since its inception.

The member countries have redoubled efforts to strengthen international cooperation on the basis of equality, mutual respect and benefits, respecting the principles of international law, toward a peaceful, stable and prosperous Asia – Pacific region. 

They have achieved encouraging results in implementing international sustainable development commitments, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the agreements under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

In a fast-changing world, the regional and global landscape and multilateralism are undergoing fundamental changes with many intertwined opportunities and challenges that have far-reaching impacts.

As the APPF is at a critical transforming juncture, the Forum needs to reform to better serve the need for dialogue and cooperation among members and for increased contribution to international and regional multilateral cooperation, including the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

The region’s legislators expressed their belief that APPF needs to shape a strategic and an aspirational vision, thus contributing to maintaining and reinforcing peace, stability and prosperity in the region, as well as promoting multilateral efforts to cope with new challenges.

To realize that vision, they reiterated that peace, stability and security are prerequisites for sustainable development and commit to further the APPF’s mandate and build up a responsible parliamentary partnership towards a shared Asia- Pacific community’s future of peace, stability, innovation, interconnected and sustainable development. 

They also reaffirmed commitment to promote cooperation in the spirit of frank and constructive dialogue, tolerance, harmony, mutual support, respect for the fundamental principles of the United Nations and international law.

The legislators pledged to promote coordination and synergy between the APPF and other parliamentary fora and regional, international institutions in dealing with regional issues with concrete initiatives and actions to strengthen linkages between APPF and other regional institutions, toward a strategic vision which contributes to peace, stability and prosperity in the region. 

By Quang Minh