Jakarta, 22 January 2020: Representatives from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) met this morning for the signing ceremony of the renewed ‘Memorandum of Understanding to Develop AIPA's Capacity on Matters Concerning ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN  Economic Integration in Various Areas’. AIPA was represented by Hon Nguyen Tuong Van, Secretary General of AIPA, while ERIA was represented by Prof Hidetoshi Nishimura, the  President of ERIA. The ceremony was witnessed by H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN and H.E. Mr Akira Chiba, Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN.

AIPA was established on 2 September 1977 as ‘AIPO’ to promote solidarity, understanding, cooperation and close relations among parliaments of ASEAN Member States, other parliaments and parliamentary organisations. AIPA serves as a regional parliamentary forum to study, discuss and suggest solutions to problems of common interest and express its views on such issues with the aim of bringing about action and timely response by the members of the AIPA; and to promote the principles of human rights, democracy, peace, security and prosperity in ASEAN.

In her ceremonial statement, the Secretary General of AIPA, Hon. Nguyen Tuong Van voiced her commitment to building and achieving the common goals of the ASEAN community vision, by working ‘very closely with the ASEAN secretariat to support legislative and executive bodies of ASEAN member states’.

The signing of this year’s MoU acts as a renewal to the signing of the first MoU on the 16 December 2016. ERIA President Prof Hidetoshi paid homage to the former Secretary-General of AIPA, Hon Isra, stating that since the signing of the first MoU, ERIA and AIPA have strengthened their relationship through various opportunities under Hon Isra’s strong leadership. One such activity under this MoU was a joint dialogue titled ”Parliamentarians Supporting the ‘Quiet Revolution’ for Better Regulatory Governance”, which contributed to better understanding of AIPA parliamentary members on non-tariff measures (NTMs) and barriers as well as good regulatory practice and reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens.

In reference to the renewal of the 2016 MoU, Secretary-General of ASEAN H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi commended ERIA and AIPA for furthering a cooperation that ‘will contribute significantly to the betterment of the ASEAN Community’.

At the 40th AIPA General Assembly on 25-30 August 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand, a resolution on ‘Establishing AIPA-ERIA Joint Dialogue to Support the Waste Management for Sustainable Development’ was adopted by the all AIPA member countries at the second plenary session on 29 August. Based on the resolution, ERIA and the AIPA Secretariat will organise a Joint Dialogue to support proper waste management for sustainable development in ASEAN countries.

The Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN, H.E. Mr Akira Chiba expressed his sincere appreciation to the dedicated efforts so far by AIPA and ERIA, in the hope that that their activities under this MoU will lead to an even stronger relationship between ASEAN and Japan. The renewed MoU is expected to encourage AIPA and ERIA to further expand their fields of activities.

Photo credit: ASEAN Secretariat (main photo) and AIPA Secretariat