Brunei set to hold 34th AIPA chairmanship next year

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

BRUNEI is set to chair the 34th Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in September next year, said the State Legislative Council (LegCo) Speaker during the 33rd AIPA in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara province in Indonesia.

In the LegCo press statement, it said that Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Diraja Dato Laila Utama Hj Isa Pehin Datu Perdana Manteri Dato Laila Utama Hj Ibrahim said 2013 will be a historic year for LegCo as for the first time, Brunei will be entrusted with the chairmanship of the 34th AIPA.

"It is indeed an honour for me and our delegation to accept this mandate in the same year that Brunei Darussalam would be chairing the ASEAN Summit," said YB Pehin Dato Hj Isa in his speech at the first plenary meeting of the 33rd AIPA.

"This, I believe, will foster stronger cooperation between AIPA and ASEAN towards ASEAN Integration," said YB Pehin Dato Hj Isa.

He said the theme of the assembly, "Strengthening Parliamentary Roles Towards ASEAN Community 2015", was crucial in achieving ASEAN Community 2015. "The theme calls for each AIPA parliament members to not only discuss matters of common interest but also collaborative efforts and actions that are needed between AIPA and ASEAN."

"The recent AIPA and ASEAN Secretariat Retreat that was held two weeks ago in Bali was a significant step in realising the commitment of AIPA and ASEAN to draw up a roadmap to further enhance cooperation between AIPA and ASEAN," he added.

According to the LegCo speaker, AIPA has become the mechanism for ASEAN to achieve ASEAN Community 2015 vision which requires the involvement of the community at the grassroot level.

He stressed that the AIPA members need to play an important role in aligning and harmonising domestic laws to regional commitments. He added that AIPA will continuously support ASEAN initiative towards realising the ASEAN Community which is within three years time.

YB Pehin Dato Hj Isa also conducted a bilateral meeting with Thong Thi Pong, Vice-President of the National Assembly of Vietnam. The two counterparts exchanged views on various aspects relating to mutual interests as well as to further strengthen the cooperation of the two country's legislature.

Included in Brunei delegation were Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Jaya Dato Paduka Hj Judin Hj Asar, Secretary to the Cabinet Minister's Council and Clerk I (First) to LegCo; Dato Paduka Hj Abdul Salam Abdul Momin, Clerk II (Second) to LegCo; members of LegCo and officials from the Department of Councils of State.

Dipetik dari - The Brunei Times