Myanmar Becomes Full-fledged Member of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly

20th September, 2011
Xinhua Web Editor: Yihang

The 32nd General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter- Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-32) on Tuesday unanimously accepted Pyitaungsu Hluttaw, the Parliament of Myanmar, as a full-fledged member of the AIPA.

The inclusion of Myanmar into the AIPA was made after the country formed its parliament last year following the general election in last November.

Cambodian President of National Assembly Heng Samrin (pictured), chairman of the AIPA-32, signed to accept the Parliament of Myanmar as the full-fledged member of AIPA.

There was also a ceremony to transfer the flag of Myanmar from the stand of AIPA special observer to that of AIPA member countries.

Speaking after becoming the full-fledged member of AIPA, Khin Aung Myint, the speaker of the Parliament of Myanmar, expressed a sincere gratitude to the AIPA for accepting the newly established Parliament of Myanmar, which has emerged in accordance with the 2008 constitution of Myanmar and as a result of the 2010 multiparty general elections, as a full-fledged member of AIPA.

"It is a great honor to be a full-fledged member of AIPA which plays a vital role in strengthening cooperation between ASEAN legislatures and beyond, and supporting the purposes and principles of ASEAN," he said. "The Parliament of Myanmar will actively participate in all cooperation activities of the AIPA and contribute towards further progress of the assembly."

The AIPA-32, held from Sept. 18 to 24, brought together the heads of all parliaments in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and observers from Australia, Canada, China, the European Parliament, Japan, South Korea, India, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Russia and the United States.

It expects to adopt a variety of documents on political, economic, social and women affairs, rights of migrant workers, and drug fighting in order to build stronger cooperation and relations among the ASEAN member countries.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.