Hanoi (VNA) - The third Meetingof Speakers of Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments (MSEAP 3) in Antalya, Turkey, closedon October 9 and officially adopted the 17-point Antalya Statement, with NationalAssembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan leading a Vietnamese high-rankingdelegation to the event.

The statement recognised the role played by parliaments of Eurasian countries in creating afrank discussion of issues, and results achieved at conferences in Moscow ofRussia and Seoul of the Republic of Korea; and exchanging views on measures topromote parliamentary diplomacy, thus contributing to peace, stability andprosperity in Eurasia.

Recognizing the importance of development in the region, the statement affirmedcommitment to promoting joint efforts in legislative support, and exploringpossibilities of expanding partnerships in Eurasia for a shared future,inclusive and sustainable growth,  prosperity through promoting cooperation inmany areas of common interest, such as logistics services, customsharmonization, multimodal connectivity, infrastructure development, businessfacilitation and technology transfer on the basis of respect for laws of eachcountry.

The statement also acknowledged the aspirations of countries to encourage theuse of new measures to support economic and trade activities through the formof intra-bloc cooperation.

Participants also reaffirmed their support for an open, inclusive,non-discriminatory, transparent and law-abiding multilateral trading system thatwas set up within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

They also reiterated their commitments to ensure the implementation andenforcement of the existing rules of the WTO and their determination to enhancecooperate to further strengthen the organization while rejecting tradepractices that do not conform to WTO rules.

The statement acknowledged the importance of joint efforts made by countries,international organizations and associations of mutual interest in connecting nationaldevelopment strategies and multilateral integration projects.

It also highlighted the important role that parliaments play in giving priorityto addressing environmental challenges such as climate change, drought,deforestation, desertification and land degradation, natural disasters, loss ofbiodiversity and water scarcity in national agendas in line with theSustainable Development Goals, to promote close cooperation and co-ordination amongEurasian countries, thus improving  adaptability and self-reliance againstnegative effects caused by these challenges.

The Statement reaffirmed the commitment to resolving conflicts by peaceful measureswith no use or threatening to use force, and adhering to universally acceptedprinciples of international law and the UN Charter.

It appreciated the Grand National Assembly of Turkey for the host of the MSEAP 3, and recognized the effortsof the RoK’s National Assembly and the State Duma of Russian for establishing theMSEAP mechanism and co-chairing the meeting; and agreed the Republic ofKazakhstan will host MSEAP 4 in2019.-VNA