Report

Delegation members

A joint delegation from the Canada–China Legislative Association and the Canada–Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group attended the transfer of hosting authority from Canada to Fiji for the 25th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) in Suva, Fiji from 3-5 April 2016. The Canadian delegation comprised:

• Honourable Donald Plett, Senator;
• Honourable Joseph A. Day, Senator.

Backgroud

The APPF is a forum of national parliamentarians from countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Currently, 27 national parliaments of the following states are members: Australia, Cambodia, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the United States of America, and Vietnam. Brunei is a permanent observer country.

As a regional parliamentary forum, the APPF enables parliamentarians to discuss issues of common concern, and to deepen their understanding of the region and the interests and experiences of its diverse countries. The forum addresses political, security, economic, social and cultural issues, thus furthering regional cooperation and fostering relationships between and among parliamentarians from the Asia-Pacific region.

The APPF was founded by former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, who is the APPF Honorary President. The purposes, principles and structure of the APPF were first set out in the Tokyo Declaration. Other milestone documents expanding on this declaration were adopted in Vancouver in 1997, Valparaiso in 2001 and Tokyo in 2012.

The inaugural meeting of the APPF was held in Tokyo in 1993. The host of each Annual Meeting is determined at the preceding meeting. During the 24th Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Fiji was confirmed as the host of the 25th Annual Meeting.

Delegation Activities and Objectives for the Event

The Senators met with Speaker Jiko Fatafehi Luveni of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji and other Fijian Parliamentarians to discuss the upcoming APPF Annual Meeting in January 2017. The Senators shared their expertise as recent hosts and reviewed the numerous tasks involved in that role, such as the preparation of materials, documentation, accommodations, and main responsibilities of the host country. The group also discussed hall sizes, number of standing committee rooms needed, services provided, logistics and general planning.

The Senators brought electronic documentation used by Canada as host in January 2016. The official handing over of the official APPF banner was also held, as is customary for the handing over of the previous host country to the next.

Fiji kindly invited the Senators to come early to share their input in the weeks prior to the Annual Meeting in January 2017 to help with preparation.

Respectfully submitted,