MESSAGE
FROM
H.E. CHAI CHIDCHOB
THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASEAN
INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY (AIPA) AND
THE PRESIDENT OF THE THAI NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
On this special occasion, I have the great honour to welcome the first quarterly issue of the AIPA News Bulletin for 2008-2009. This publication reflects the working of AIPA as a channel of information on activities sharing among Members of Parliaments. Yet, it far more creates opportunities for Members of Parliaments in reaching out to each other throughout the year in the sense of keeping up prominent relationship between AIPA Members.
I would like to give high praise to the Parliament of Singapore in successfully hosting the 29th AIPA General Assembly in August 2008 with substantial support from the AIPA Secretariat. We, AIPA, have seen outstanding development on certain areas of cooperation in recent years as we are attaining ASEAN Community. We will also put utmost effort to continue achieving the aims of AIPA together with ASEAN towards greater regional integration.
This year, Thailand has received a privilege to take both ASEAN and AIPA presidency, and there is a real prospect that the two branches will function collectively and overcome the problems currently challenging ASEAN as one. Many mechanisms including the establishment of the AIPA Caucus will ensure the progress of common legislative initiatives and be a key consultative body of ASEAN in promoting people-to-people exchanges between the people of different countries under the ASEAN Charter to achieve the gold of ASEAN Community.
AIPA Members will meet again in Pattaya City for the 30th General Assembly, 2-8 August 2009 and I see it as a remarkable chance to make our mission happen with our own hands. As the President of AIPA and as the host, I would like to invite Members of Parliaments, Special Observers and Observers to Thailand and look forward to welcome all of you this year.
CHAI CHIDCHOB
The President of the Thai National Assembly and
President of AIPA 2008/2009
February, 2009
