Draft Resolution Submitted by Mexico

THE SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASIA PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM

Considering that world development travels on the road of globalization of economic relations and the conformation of regionalisms on common bases;

Reaffirming the commitment that the extension of global challenges creates a greater need for consulting and creating consensus and action at the Asia-Pacific regional level and that this action shall be complete and integral only to the extent that linked efforts exist between International Parliamentary Assemblies and mechanisms of economic cooperation of the Asia-Pacific region;

Noting that scenarios of cooperation, regionalism and integration are associated to decisions with a strategic character, such as the degree to which political and economic decisions are molded in an attempt to harmonize national policies regarding a regional setting;

Recognizing the importance of parliamentarian processes in building public support for regional cooperation and in the definition and approval of the legislative changes needed to implement international cooperation, especially agreements for commercial and financial liberalization and facilitation defined in the framework of regional economic cooperation forums;

Assuming that parliaments should be considered as active participants in the processes of political dialog and economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and that the APPF should become an articulating axis in this process;

Underlining that coordinated steps need instrumentation between the different bodies of the Asia-Pacific, such as: the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC), Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in order to develop the region integrally;

Resolves to:

1.     Urge the APPF to integrate the APPF Technical Work Group so it prepares a study seeking coordination between the different regional bodies;

2.     Request that it considers an effective link between the APPF and other Parliamentarian Assemblies of the Asia-Pacific region, such as a way of strengthening cooperation agendas on topics such as the world financial crisis, combating organized crime, caring for the environment and promoting development;

3.     Urge the APPF to access and establish relations with other regional economic cooperation mechanisms so the parliaments of our nations can contribute by advancing effectively on the process of economic cooperation and the commercial and financial liberalization and facilitation in the Asia-Pacific region.