AIPA’s 44th General Session is a strategic momentum for the Indonesian parliament to realize various national interests. For the seventh time, Indonesia has hosted this parliamentary event. The AIPA General Assembly is a valuable moment for Indonesia, especially the Indonesian Parliament, to continue to strengthen the role of parliamentary diplomacy in the midst of emerging challenges in the region, in the national interest.
Indonesia is the host of the General Assembly of Organizations between parliamentary countries in the Southeast Asian region or also called the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). The 44th AIPA will take place in Jakarta from 5 to 10 August 2023, and the Indonesian Parliament will be the organiser, inviting guest delegates from various countries. Not only the ASEAN parliament, but this celebration was also attended by a number of ASEAN guests and partners.
After successfully holding the 144th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Assembly in Bali and the 8th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) in Jakarta 2022, the DPR RI has again shown its existence and is ready to carry out international standard events. The DPR RI stated that it was ready to show the best face of Indonesia in the 44th AIPA General Assembly.
Deputy Chairman of the DPR RI Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP) Gilang Dhielafararez said that as part of Indonesia’s chairmanship at this year’s AIPA, the DPR RI is committed to providing its best as a host.
Indeed, this is a big responsibility on behalf of the state and people of Indonesia in making international events a success. Therefore, the DPR RI invites all Indonesian people to participate in the 44th AIPA General Assembly. Participating can be in various forms, including by enlivening it in the virtual world or social media.
Indonesia’s success in holding international events will further enhance the country’s image on the world stage. For information, the total number of participants who will attend the AIPA General Assembly is estimated at 500 people, including delegates from 10 ASEAN countries. In addition, representatives from 20 observer countries, and representatives from 12 international organizations.
AIPA was born from the desire of the members of Parliament of ASEAN member countries in an effort to foster a common understanding in assisting and encouraging closer cooperation. Including to bridge the problem solving that occurred in ASEAN countries.
In this AIPA performance, green economy seems to be one of the main issues to be discussed. This is in accordance with the big theme of the 44th AIPA, namely ‘Responsive Parliaments for a Stable and Prosperous ASEAN’ or ‘Responsive Parliament for a Stable and Prosperous ASEAN’.
Putu Supadma Rudana said that the theme raised at the 44th AIPA General Assembly in Jakarta was more of a green economy concept. According to him, currently the world tends to look at the parameters of high economic growth alone, and is considered the only single positive benchmark of GDP. In order to guard the stability and prosperity of the Southeast Asian region where the green economy is the main reference, the ASEAN parliament must work more comprehensively together.
The concept of a green economy is in line with global commitments in achieving SDG’s. The goal is sustainable development on the 2030 agenda. This economic concept is a combination and composition between sustainable economic prosperity or growth but the human and environmental aspects are not abandoned.
The 44th General Assembly of AIPA also shows that Indonesia is very capable of leading the region and providing inspiration and motivation for ASEAN countries. Various issues and issues raised at the AIPA session related to democracy, human rights, politics, economics, socio-culture, youth, environment and gender equality issues.
According to Putu, it is hoped that in the future AIPA will become a good momentum to become a big leap in the ASEAN region to work together in synergy to become a community entity to fight for all its potential. Also an inspiration for the Asia Pacific region, Europe, Africa and other world regions.
Parliament as a representative institution must take responsibility for dealing with climate change and global warming by integrating these issues into policy formulation, budgeting and oversight, so that they are relevant to the global targets set in the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.
In the Indonesian context, Fadli Zon as Chair of the DPR RI Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP) stated that the impacts of climate change will not be controlled if there is no concrete global action. Fadli assessed that in this context parliament plays a strategic role in encouraging government policies to be able to answer the SDGs directly.
In creating concrete solutions to overcome various problems in the Southeast Asia Region or for ASEAN member countries, of course, good cooperation and good synergy between ASEAN countries and partner countries are needed. Also the synergy between the executive and legislature. Therefore, diplomacy is a form of advancing Indonesia’s national interests. AIPA’s 44th General Session is one of the golden opportunities for the Indonesian parliament to realize various national interests. []
By: Reenee WA (Senior Journalist / Social Political Observer)
