National Assembly (NA) President Heng Samrin will lead a delegation from the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) to attend the ASEAN-AIPA Interface on November 10 in Phnom Penh, according to a press statement on November 4.
The AIPA was founded in 1977 as an organisation separate from ASEAN, but linked in terms of its focus. Its membership consists of over 300 legislators from the parliaments of ASEAN nations, but it does not have any formal legislative powers or other duties beyond advice and consultation.
The statement said NA first-vice president Cheam Yeap, a member of the Cambodian parliamentary delegation, will share his recommendations on key issues faced by AIPA member countries and ASEAN. The recommendations will come from a preparatory meeting held on the morning of the same day.
“The delegations of AIPA member countries will provide input for inclusion in the message to be read out by Heng Samrin, NA president, and the rotational chair of AIPA’s interface with ASEAN leaders,” the statement said.
The ASEAN-AIPA Interface is organized at every ASEAN summit to strengthen and expand cooperation between the two regional mechanisms. It is held to discuss ASEAN’s affairs at all levels toward one common goal of peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region.
This is the 11th ASEAN-AIPA Interface since the first was held in 2009 in Hua Hin, Thailand. The last Interface was held virtually in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2020.
