Draft Resolution sponsored by the Lao People's Democratic Republic

THE SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASIA PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM

Recalling Resolution No. APPF/ RES/5 adopted by the 16^th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum from 20^th to 24^th January 2008, in Auckland, New Zealand, and the commitment on Energy Security made by APPF members and adopted at the 15^th Annual Meeting of the APPF during which serious attention was paid to Energy Security;

Recognizing that energy is a fundamental component playing a prominent role in the economic development of nations worldwide and is a prerequisite for the future prosperity and overall competitiveness of the region;

Realizing that the increasing global demand for energy, the increasing dependency on energy imports, the high oil prices, and the prospect of future scarcities of oil and gas have raised the awareness of nations for the need for the adoption of a national approach on energy security;

Noting the importance of energy in serving as the economic foundation for socio-economic development, and as a critical common issue in APPF member states and of the contemporary world;

Convinced of the need to develop a wide range of energy resources, to pursue research on alternative energy resources namely: bio-fuel, hydro power, solar power, wind power, biomass, geothermal power, and tidal power to increase energy supplies, and to promote the efficient use of energy to ensure energy security in Asia-Pacific member economies;

Realizing that effective cooperation among APPF member states to overcome energy shortages and high prices is to be addressed as a common interest;

Reaffirming the readiness to share and exchange information, greater networking, mobilization of resources and increased efforts to achieve energy security

Resolves to:

1.             Welcome and Support efforts made by APPF Member Governments to promote cooperation in energy programs;

2.             Encourage APPF Member States to strengthen cooperation in the Sustainable Energy Development Program, to reinforce the exchange of public policies, and to share best practices and expertise, and technologies and capital, in order to ensure energy supplies for the poor thus leading to economic growth and sustainable development in the region;

3.             Call on the government of APPF Member States to promote the development and use of renewable or alternative energy systems, and to enhance cooperation through bilateral and multilateral agreements on research and development;

4.             Call upon APPF Member Parliaments, through their legislative and capacity building activities to maximize each member’s internal strengths in order to harmonize the legal and regulatory frameworks of the countries in the region with a view of strengthening intra-APPF cooperation, and creating favorable conditions and investment incentives for public-private participation in energy production and supply to meet the demand;

5.             Urge All APPF Member States to facilitate such technological development and transfer of know-how, and to work together with multilateral funding agencies, sub-regional groups, research institutions and through public-private partnership and initiatives for Energy Security in the region;

6.             Promote knowledge of and awareness on energy saving including the use of energy by households and cleaner production;

7.             Encourage energy trading among APPF countries especially in electricity from the countries with electricity generating potential.