Phnom penh: The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) concluded its annual caucus in Phnom Penh last week, marking a historical event with the inclusion of observer parliaments for the first time.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, at the initiative of Cambodia, eight observer parliaments participated in the Sixteenth AIPA Caucus hosted by the National Assembly. These included Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Georgia, India, Morocco, Pakistan, and Trkiye, along with the European Parliament. The event also saw participation from AIPA's development partners, the Parliamentary Centre for Asia and the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace (IPTP). Timor-Leste, set to become the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations later this year, was invited as a guest of the chair.
Hon. Kittisethabindit Cheam Yeap, First Vice-President of the National Assembly, emphasized the significance of this participation in his welcome remarks on July 15, highlighting it as a milestone for AIPA and a testament to the commitment to inclusiveness and the rule of law.
The caucus featured a parliamentary dialogue where AIPA members engaged with the observers. During the first session, chaired by Hon. Keo Piseth of the Cambodian National Assembly, observers underscored the crucial role of women parliamentarians in peacebuilding and conflict resolution through inclusive legislation and leadership. They also lauded AIPA's efforts in enhancing parliamentary capacities and fostering social cohesion.
In his keynote address, Hon. Ahmed Qarata, Second Deputy Speaker of Bahrain's Council of Representatives, highlighted the importance of the dialogue amid a global landscape filled with interlinked crises. He praised AIPA for its growing role as a regional parliamentary platform addressing contemporary issues such as climate change, food and water security, and technological advancement, urging for regional parliamentary initiatives and legislative expertise exchange.
The second session, led by Hon. Dato' Ramli Bin Mohd Nor of Malaysia, focused on collective parliamentary action in tackling interconnected risks like climate change and cybersecurity. Observers emphasized the need for regional cooperation, parliamentary diplomacy, and shared solutions, identifying climate finance, technology transfer, and digital innovation as key to sustainable economies.
Hon. Suos Yara, President of the Commission on Foreign Affairs of the Cambodian National Assembly and current IPTP President, chaired the third session. Observers stressed enhancing inter-parliamentary cooperation to address peace and security challenges, reaffirming the importance of international law and human rights as the foundation for peacebuilding efforts.
Cambodia highlighted its role in hosting the 11th Plenary Session of the IPTP last year, which led to the adoption of the Universal Peace Charter: For People and the Planet, and its preparations to operationalize the International Institute for Peace and Justice.
AIPA Secretary General H.E. Ar. Siti Rozaimeriyanty Dato Haji Abdul Rahman praised the dialogue as a valuable platform for exchanging perspectives and strengthening collective commitments to peace and stability. She encouraged member parliaments to pursue similar initiatives and urged observers to deepen their engagement with AIPA for more effective cooperation.
Established in 2007, the AIPA Caucus serves as a mechanism to develop common legislative initiatives aimed at harmonizing the laws of ASEAN members. It also facilitates regular interaction among AIPA members and ASEAN in monitoring the implementation of resolutions from the AIPA General Assembly. Malaysia is set to host this year's General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur in September, with AIPA currently consisting of two dozen member parliaments.