ASEAN parliamentarians on August 22 issued a joint communique at the end of the 29th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 29) in Singapore on August 22, affirming the great role of ASEAN legislators in promoting regional links for people’s benefits.

The communique stressed AIPA’s contribution to drafting and adopting the ASEAN Charter. The Assembly called on remaining countries, namely Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, to ratify the Charter as early as possible in order to make the Charter effective on the occasion of the 14th ASEAN Summit scheduled to be held in December.

The communique emphasised that economic integration among ASEAN countries will help promote competitiveness to attract investors and bring economic benefit to countries.

The Assembly is determined to raise ASEAN people’s awareness on the grouping’s identity through policies, programmes and activities relating to the ASEAN Community’s politic-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars.

Participants to the Assembly discussed current issues relating to energy and food security, climate change, economic integration in order raise the AIPA’s role in solving regional and international issues.

Delegates from eight AIPA members, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, approved 22 resolutions on political, economic and social-related issues as well as matters on AIPA’s organisational affairs in the spirit of high consensus for co-operation and development.

The Assembly also adopted a resolution to hold the 30th AIPA in Thailand next year. (VNA)