Islamabad, 4 September 2021 (TDI): Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Asim Iftikhar informed that Pakistan has become an observer in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). The status was approved in the 42nd General Assembly of the AIPA, held in Hanoi Vietnam from 23 to 25 August. Being an observer state, Pakistan will open new prospects of cooperation between the parliament of Pakistan and AIPA.
AIPA (formerly ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization, AIPO) is a regional parliamentary organization which was formed on 2 September, 1977 at the third ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Conference in Manila, Philippines. The members of the parliament are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. In addition, the European Parliament, Australia, Belarus, Canada, China, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Russia, and Timor-Leste are the observer parliaments with Georgia, Ukraine, and Pakistan joining them.
The observer status which is conferred upon Pakistan holds immense importance. Its Vision East Asia Policy is one of the pillars of this objective. The observer status would provide the platform for Pakistan and other members to interact and cooperate on the issue of mutual concern.
Pakistan can enhance political, social, cultural and economic relations with the member states of the parliament.
The collaboration in these areas will signify peace within the Asian region.
. The status was approved in the 42nd General Assembly of the AIPA, held in Hanoi Vietnam from 23 to 25 August. Being the observer state, Pakistan will open new prospects of cooperation between the parliament of Pakistan and AIPA.){kind=link}