MINSK, 19 October (BelTA) – Promoting a peaceful and constructive agenda is a priority task for inter-parliamentary diplomacy, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Igor Sergeyenko said at the first plenary session of the 45th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations held under the theme “The Role of Parliaments in Enhancing Connectivity and Inclusive Growth of ASEAN” that is taking place in Vientiane, Laos, BelTA has learned.
“The theme of the 45th General Assembly of the AIPA is very relatable to Belarus. The Republic of Belarus considers the promotion of a peaceful and constructive agenda as a priority of its inter-parliamentary diplomacy. We advocate integration and engagement, rather than artificial barriers that impede efforts to build a safe and prosperous world. We call on parliamentarians at all levels to promote unifying initiatives aimed at strengthening trust between countries. Among them is the initiative of the president of Belarus to draw a Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century that seeks to develop a new collective security system 'in the spirit of San Francisco'. This is a collective agreement that sets out the principles of building a fair world order, where each state will have not only the right, but also practical opportunities for sustainable sovereign development and equal cooperation,” Igor Sergeyenko remarked.
Parliamentarians play an increasing role in maintaining political dialogue, strengthening contacts and ensuring inclusive growth based on progressive economic development and the eradication of social injustice, the speaker emphasized. “We support the efforts of the AIPA to find ways to boost regional and international security, promote economic progress and integration. We believe it will be useful to hold joint events on topical issues of mutual interest, such as food security or artificial intelligence,” added Igor Sergeyenko.
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 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 dialo gue 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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