Phnom Penh: The President of the National Assembly and Co-Chair of the 11th Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP11), Heng Samrin, opened the virtual meeting with a speech that emphasized the importance of peace for the development of nations and regions across the world.

After welcoming the guests, Samrin remarked the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the continuance of conflicts in certain regions of the world. He stated that while peace and stability has progressed in recent decades, “We must not forget that wars can easily and quickly break out and spread rapidly… [and] wars can never be easily ended”.

The President of the National Assembly has reminded that Cambodia is a nation that has experienced war, adding he “would like to express its deepest condolences to the people of fellow countries who are suffering all kinds of wars and pray for such tragedies to end soon so that people can live in peace and harmony”.

Reiterating the meeting’s theme of “Strengthening Parliamentary Partnership of Peace and Sustainable Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond”, Samrin spoke of the importance of the ASEP11 forum for discussing solutions to common challenges as well as promoting peace, stability and sustainable development for people in Asia, Europe and across the globe.

Samrin went on to acknowledge the shared challenge both Asia and Europe face against COVID-19, stating he strongly supports the economic recovery strategies set by nations from both continents, including the Europe Recovery Plan and the ASEAN Recovery Framework. He has also stressed the importance of an open multilateral trading system that maintains the stability of global supply chains and deepens economic connectivity.

Speaking of the climate change’s detrimental effects that both Asia and Europe face, Samrin welcomed the launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, and reaffirmed the shared ambition to achieve a 50 percent reduction of degraded land by 2040 as well as land degradation neutrality by 2030.

The Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting was established in 1996, in Strasbourg, France. There are currently 51 participating member countries from Asia and Europe, including two partner organizations - the European Union and the ASEAN Secretariat.