MINSK, 19 October (BelTA) – The official visit of the Belarusian parliamentary delegation led by Chairman of the House of Representatives Igor Sergeyenko to the Lao People's Democratic Republic has begun, BelTA learned from the press service of the House of Representatives.
Belarusian parliamentarians laid a basket of flowers and a ribbon "From the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus" at the memorial to the first leader of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Kaysone Phomvihane. Igor Sergeyenko took part in the meeting of Chairman of the National Assembly of Laos, Chairman of the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly Saysomphone Phomvihane with heads of delegations of ASEAN parliaments, observer parliaments, the secretaries general of ASEAN and the ASEAN IPA, heads of guest delegations and ASEAN IPA development partners. The Belarusian parliamentary delegation also took part in the opening ceremony of the 45th General Assembly of the AIPA held under the theme "The Role of Parliaments in Enhancing Connectivity and Inclusive Growth of ASEAN". Today, Igor Sergeyenko is expected to speak at the first plenary session of the 45th General Assembly, and will also hold talks with Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.
The Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (AIPA) was established in 1977. Currently, ASEAN has 10 member states: Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. The main objectives of the AIPA are to promote human rights, democracy, peace, security and prosperity of ASEAN, to develop a common identity and sense of belonging among the peoples of ASEAN to achieve a common destiny, goals and values.
The AIPA highest body is the General Assembly, which convenes once a year to set policy directions for the development of the organization. Its venue alternates among member parliaments in alphabetical order. The president of the national parliament of the member state where the General Assembly is to be held is the president of the AIPA and the president of the General Assembly.
The AIPA has 23 observers. The parliament of Belarus received the observer status in September 2011 in Phnom Penh (Kingdom of Cambodia) at the 32nd AIPA General Assembly. This gave Belarus an access to a platform for a permanent dialogue with the member countries of the organization on economic, political, social and humanitarian issues.
Belarusian MPs regularly participate in events organized by the AIPA, including the annual AIPA General Assembly.
Photos courtesy of the press service of the House of Representatives
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