Hanoi (VNA) – The 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-PacificParliamentary Forum (APPF-26) will feature two plenary sessions onpolitics-security and economics-trade matters on January 19, the second workingday of the event.

Thefirst session is set to discuss the promotion of parliamentary diplomacy forpeace, security and prosperity in the region and the world, along with thefight against international terrorism and trans-border crime.

Atthe second plenary session, APPF delegates are expected to hear the report on the results of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. They will also talk about the role of parliamentsin promoting economic links intensively and comprehensively.

Otherissues to be tabled during the session include food security  and sustainable agricultural development, supportfor micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the digital age.

Thedelegates will focus on economic cooperation in Asia-Pacific andparliamentarians’ contributions to regional efforts to expand trade andinvestment cooperation, for peace, stability and sustainable development.

TheDrafting Committee and working groups of the APPF are also scheduled to convene their meeting on January 19.

Therewill also be bilateral meetings between leaders of the member parliaments onthe sidelines of the event.

Lastinguntil January 21, the APPF-26 features four plenary sessions on the topics ofpolitics-security, economics-trade, regional cooperation in Asia-Pacific, andthe future of APPF.

Foundedin Tokyo, Japan in 1993, the APPF now gathers 27 members, namely Australia, Cambodia, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam.

Itis a mechanism that enables parliamentarians to discuss issues of commonconcern, and to deepen their understanding of the region and the interests andexperience of its diverse members. The forum’s proceedings address political,security, economic, social and cultural issues, thus furthering regionalcooperation and building relations between and among parliamentarians from theAsia-Pacific region.-VNA