After two-day discussion and deliberation, the 1st Executive Council Meeting of the APA was fruitfully concluded in the afternoon of 27 September 2016, with the Cambodian parliament receiving acclamation from parliaments in Asian countries who said Cambodia has smoothly organized the event, which has produced satisfactory outcome. Parliament delegates from Asian countries, meanwhile, expressed their appreciation to the parliament of the Kingdom of Cambodia for the warmest hospitality and excellent arrangements accorded to them during the two-day meeting. The meeting discussed 19 draft resolutions put forward by three APA Standing Committees concerning Political, Economic, and Social and Cultural Affairs. The regional gathering also debated the Draft Resolution on Planning APA Budget for 2017. The meeting highly evaluated Cambodia, who has paved the ways for the APA budgetary discussion as part of its contributions to further strengthening the effective performance of the APA.H.E. Mr. Nhem Thavy, Member of Parliament from Cambodia, who was among parliamentary delegates attending the meeting, said after successfully wrapping up the 1st Executive Council Meeting, and coordinating discussion in an equal footing and solidarity manner within the whole Asian family, the APA has hammered out 19resolutions and found the next presidency of the APA, with Turkey taking over from Cambodia, confirming that Turkey will take over the APA presidency from Cambodia, and Bhutan will assume the vice-chair of the APA in charge of the Standing Committee on Social and Cultural Affairs, while Pakistan assume the vice-chair responsible for the Standing Committee on Political Affairs. The APA will decide to elect two more vice-chair candidatures during its 9th Plenary Session, which is scheduled to take place from 27 November to 1 December 2016 in Cambodia’s famed Angkor Wat province of Siem Reap. As a member of the APA for two-year mandate, the Parliament of the Kingdom of Cambodia has hosted numerous meetings within the framework of Asia. Turkey extended its profound thanks to the parliament of Cambodia for having organized the APA related meetings so far, and it will host the 10th and 11th APA Plenary Sessions.

As the rotating presidency of the APA who takes over from Cambodia, Turkish parliamentary delegation wowed to strive hard to make the APA successful through the mobilization of views and experience from Asian member parliaments so as to contribute further to the progress and harmony of people in Asia. On the occasion, parliamentary delegation from Bhutan, who will be the APA deputy-chair in charge of the Standing Committee on Social and Cultural Affairs, pointed out that Bhutan is a young democratic country, which enjoys a just nearly ten year democracy, but its vision and contributions to the APA in the capacity as the vice-chair are very central, especially it could learn good experience from other parliaments in the region in an effort to fruitfully serve the APA in the future. Lastly, H.E. Mr. Nhem Thavy emphasized that the Parliament of the Kingdom of Cambodia will warmly welcome all honorable parliamentary delegates from Asia once again in the late November 2016, stressing that the parliament of Cambodia will continue its role as the APA presidency until 2017. The APA has played a very indispensable role in establishing parliamentary mechanisms with the aim of contributing to peace and stability in the region, he added.

Photos and article by courtesy of the Information Department