The four-day 17th annual conference of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) opened in Vientiane on Monday, with the participation of the Chinese delegation led by Zhou Tienong, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).
At the opening session, Zhou Tienong said that the meeting would enhance cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and promote economic cooperation among regional countries.
In the context of the global financial crisis, the countries of the Asia-Pacific region are now facing a series of crises which are not anticipated, creating challenges against sustainable development in the region, said Zhou.
Regional countries should closely cooperate to figure out effective measures to stave off difficulties caused by the global economic downturn for the sake of stable economic development in the region, he said.
Zhou also called on Asian-Pacific countries to intensify regional political dialogues and trade and economic cooperation, strengthen parliamentary exchanges to achieve lasting development and prosperity in the region and the world as a whole.
China always attaches great importance to cooperation with other Asian-Pacific countries. China will continue to boost partnership relations with regional countries under the motto of long-lasting friendship, contributing to peace and development in the region, said Zhou.
Lao National Assembly President Thongsing Thammavong and Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Secretary General Anders B. Johnson also delivered speeches at the opening ceremony of the meeting.
Nearly 300 delegates from 23 of the 27 APPF member countries and observers are attending the four-day meeting in Vientiane.
The annual meeting will put on table such issues as the global financial crisis, economic-trade issues, political-security stability, and sustainable development in the region.