Top legislator Li Peng Tuesday told some 400 Asian parliament
members that cooperation is vital for peace and development of the
world's largest continent.
"Asian nations will achieve greater progress and development as
long as we give full play to our advantages, maintain the fine
traditions of oriental civilization and enhance cooperation and
mutual assistance," said Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of
the Ninth National People's Congress, China's top legislature.
Li
made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the third general
assembly of the Association of
Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP), which was held Tuesday in
Beijing.
Parliament members from 39 Asian countries attended the
ceremony.
"China is ready to work with other nations in Asia and the rest of
the world to build a better world featuring peace, development,
progress and prosperity," said President Jiang Zemin in his
congratulatory letter to the AAPP annual meeting which was read by
Vice-President Hu Jintao.
Formally launched in 1999 in Dhaka in Bangladesh, the 36-member
AAPP has become the largest regional parliamentary organization in
Asia and the most influential platform and channel for dialogue and
communication between Asian parliaments and parliament members.
This year's meeting of the AAPP has taken "Peace and Development"
as its theme.
"Peace is the prerequisite for promoting development while
development serves as an important foundation for maintaining
peace," Li said.
The stability and prosperity of Asia have greatly contributed to
the peace, stability and development of the world, Li said.
However, Asian nations are still facing political and economic
difficulties of varying degrees of seriousness today, he added.
Li
said parliaments are "an important part of a country's political
system and a bridge between people and government," and their
members should assume more responsibility and play a more active
role in maintaining peace and development in both the region and
the world.
Norodom Ranarith, president of the Cambodian National Assembly and
president of the AAPP, agreed with Li, saying that peace, stability
and cooperation among Asian nations are vital for the promotion of
development.
All Asian nations should follow the principles of the United
Nations Charter to maintain global peace and promote the
development of humankind, said Najma Heptulla, president of the
Council of Inter-parliamentary
Union.
Li
suggested that Asian parliaments enhance exchanges and mutual
learning in building democracy and legal systems, strengthen
cooperation in regional and global affairs, and increase contacts
among their leaders.
Li
said the AAPP is an important organization that can help Asian
nations strengthen regional inter-parliamentary cooperation and
exchanges.
(China
Daily April 17, 2002)