Welcome to APPU, Anonymous Thursday, March 28 2024 @ 07:51 pm JST

About APPU

General News(All Members)

I. Brief Introduction of the APPU

PURPOSE

“Peace, stability and prosperity are the greatest desires of the Asian people, yet there is tension and strife in Asia and many are suffering from poverty and disease. In the light of this situation, the Asian Parliamentarians’ Union (APU) aims at achieving and preserving freedom and democracy, thereby securing peace and prosperity in Asia. The APU is the union composed of national groups of parliamentarians who agree with this aim.”
This quoted remark is an epitome of the purpose of the APU established in 1965. Since 1975 onwards, however, close relations between the APU member nations and the Pacific Island nations have rapidly developed, so the 16th General Assembly held in Taipei of the Republic of China decided to amend the Charter to change the name of the APU to the Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union (APPU) and to provide for associate membership in order to widen its scope and to strengthen solidarity and the force of freedom in the Asian-Pacific region.

HISTORY

The APU was organized in Tokyo in 1965 by the initiative of parliamentarians from five nations in Asia-- Republic of China(Taiwan), Japan, Republic of Korea, Republic of the Philippines and Kingdom of Thailand.
The establishment and purpose of the APU, unprecedented in the Asian history, received the enthusiastic response of the Asian nations. Year after year, Indonesia, the Khmer Republic, Malaysia, Laos and the Republic of Vietnam joined the APU. In 1973 and 1974, however, some nations ceased to be the members from the unavoidable circumstances of their own countries or from a political change befallen their region. At the 24th Council Meeting of the APU held in Seoul from June 13 to 15, 1978, the Republic of Nauru in the Central Pacific was admitted as a full member. At the 17th General Assembly held in Tokyo, 1981, the Territory of Guam, the Republic of Vanuatu, the Republic of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia joined the Union as associate members. At the 18th General Assembly held in Agana, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands joined the Union as associate members. At the 18th General Assembly, the Charter of the Union was amended, above all in Art. 8 (voting) and Art. 12 (Steering Committee). So far as the membership is concerned, the Republic of Vanuatu and Fiji were admitted to the Union in 1983 and Solomon Islands joined as a full member in 1986. In 1987, Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of the Marshall Islands became a full member respectively because of their acquisition of independent sovereign status. In 1988, Republic of the Philippines reentered the Union and regained the former position of founding member. In the same year, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, the Kingdom of Tonga and Western Samoa joined as a full member respectively. In 1989 the Republic of Kiribati, in 1990 Cook Islands and in 1991 Tuvalu were admitted to the Union respectively. In 1992 Republic of Fiji returned to her membership in the Union. In 1993, Vietnam and Lao People’s Democratic Republic were granted their admission to the Union, but Vietnam is participating in APPU conferences as an observer because her internal procedure is not completed yet. In 1994, the Republic of Palau became a full member because she gained her independence. Then, in 2000, Mongolia was admitted to the Union.

ORGANIZATIONS

The Central Secretariat

The Central Secretariat was established in Tokyo, Japan, in June, 1971 as a central administrative organ of APU and is now taking its omnibus duty to coordinate and to assist, if necessary, the work of individual secretariats of the APPU member countries. Article 13 of the APPU Charter stipulates that the Central Secretariat as an administrative organ shall function as the archives, documentation, information and correspondence center on all matters pertaining to the Union including keeping records of and making reports on the implementation of the resolutions adopted by the Union, and that the same Secretariat shall assist in liaison and coordination between the Secretariats of the member groups.
The Central Secretariat operates the APPU website which has the main four functions: (1) Information from the Central Secretariat of APPU (Topic) (2) Information about events (Event) (3) Resolutions to propose (Forum) (4) Balloting system (Polls).
With regard to the operation of the Central Secretariat, IFA, International Friendship Association has been left in charge of implementing the office from October 2006, according to the yearly contracts between the Central Secretariat, APPU and IFA. IFA was established in 1969 by Mr. Kiichi Aichi (Minister of Foreign Affairs)’s leadership under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. The main purpose of IFA’s foundation announced as improvement and establishment of mutual understandings and friendly relations in an international society.

MEMBERS

National Groups:

Asia:
Republic of China(Taiwan),Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Republic of the Philippines, Kingdom of Thailand

Pacific:
Cook Islands, Republic of Fiji, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Nauru, Republic of Palau, Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands,, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, Republic of Vanuatu

Associate Groups:

Pacific:
Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Observer:

Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

ACTIVITIES

[2007]

◇January 29, Tokyo, Japan The Extraordinary General Assembly (11 Member groups)

◇August 30 ~ September 2, Ngerulmud, Palau The 38th General Assembly & the 72rd Council Meeting (10 Member Groups)

・Theme: Environment and Development 6 resolutions were adopted [2008]

◇August 10 ~ 12, Nara, Japan The 39th General Assembly & the 73rd Council Meeting (14 Member Groups)

・Theme: Alternate Energy, Global Warming, Climate Change and Human Resources and Development 5 resolutions were adopted
[2009]

◇August 10 ~ 12, Taipei, R. O. C. The 40th General Assembly & the 43rd Council Meeting (14 Member Groups)

・Theme: Human Securities 12 resolutions were adopted
[2010]

◇August 9 ~ 11, Tokyo, Japan The 41st General Assembly & the 74th Council Meeting (8 Member Groups)

・Theme: Development and Environment
[2011]

◇September 7 ~ 9, Palikir, Micronesia The 42nd General Assembly & the 76th Council Meeting (7 Member Groups)

・Theme: APPU: New Challenges, New Role 5 resolutions were adopted
[2013]

◇March 25 ~ 27, Tokyo, Japan The 43rd General Assembly & the 77th Council Meeting (11 Member Groups)

・Theme: Aiming to Strengthen the Bonds between Asian and Pacific Islands Countries’ Members 3 resolutions were adopted
[2014]

◇August 4 ~ 6, Taipei, R. O. C. The 44th General Assembly & the78th Council Meeting (12 Member Groups)

・Theme: Regional Cooperation for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation 9 resolutions were adopted
[2015]

◇August 4 ~ 6, Majuro, Marshal Islands The 45th General Assembly & the 79th Council Meeting (9 Member Groups)

・Theme: Education and its Role in the Sustainable Development Goals
6 resolutions were adopted

[2016]

◇August 3 ~ 5, Ngerulmud, Palau The 46th General Assembly & the 80th Council Meeting (10 Member Groups)

・Theme: Achieving Goodwill and Prosperity Amid Challenges
5 resolutions were adopted.

[2017]

◇September 18 ~ 20, Oita, Japan The 47th General Assembly & the 81st Council Meeting (10 Member Groups)

・Theme: Promotion of Inbound Tourism--Vitalization in Local Economy and Cultural Exchange
11 resolutions were adopted.

[2018]

◇September 23 ~ 26, Republic of Nauru The 48th General Assembly & the 82nd Council Meeting (9 Member Groups)

・Theme: Strengthening Stakeholder Partnership and Climate Change Resilience in the Asia Pacific Region: Disaster Prevention, Mitigation, Renewable Energy, Peace and Prosperity
7 resolutions were adopted.

[2019]

◇August 5 ~ 7, Taipei, R. O. C. The 49th General Assembly & the 83rd Council Meeting (13 Member Groups)

・Theme: Oceans of Democracy and a Sustainable Indo-Pacific
10 resolutions were adopted

[2021]

◇February 2 ~ 3, Tokyo, Japan The 50th General Assembly & the 84th Council Meeting (11 Member Groups)
・Theme: Overcoming COVID-19 through prevention and regenerating Economic and Social Activities