(VOV/VOVworld) - The 7^th Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting opened in Vientiane, Laos today attracting 300 delegates. National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung led a Vietnamese delegation to the event. In his opening speech, Laos National Assembly Chairwoman Pany Yathotou, President of ASEP 7 highlighted the importance of expanding Asia Europe Parliamentary Partnership over the past decade and the need to ensure sustainable economic growth in each country. She also pointed the need to step up economic development, especially on issues relating to public debt, food security, climate change and natural disaster management. Pany Yathotou called on governments in Asia and Europe to strengthen their legislative relations. "It’s important to increase Asia-Europe cooperation in the management of public debt to ensure sustainable growth as public debt is threatening the world’s economic stability. ASEP members need to encourage their governments to fine tune their financial policies, develop public debt management policies in the medium and long term, build an information and communications network and gain experience in legislation. We also need to enhance cooperation between Asia and Europe to avoid risking our socio-economic development plans", said Pany Yathotou.

Laos Prime Minister, Thongsing Thammavong, who is also Chair of the 9^th Asia Europe Meeting stressed that Laos pursued a policy of independence and self-reliance in harmony with furthering foreign relations, especially with ASEM members.

In his opening speech, Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung highlighted the important role of ASEP parliamentarians in increasing mutual understanding and boosting cooperation between Asia and Europe. Hung said that Vietnam was in favor of strengthening cooperation and sharing its experiences in assessing and reducing risks, building early warning systems, and search and rescue. Another priority was developing post disaster infrastructures in line with the Hyogo Action Framework 2005-2015 and other UN resolutions.  Hung also proposed that ASEP member countries support measures to increase agricultural productivity and food production to ensure food security. Chairman Hung said: "As we are seeing more and more natural disasters, ensuring food security is essential for promoting prosperity and sustainable growth in each country. ASEP members need to support measures that increase agricultural productivity and food production to ensure food security, take on an international approach policy to develop a transparent food market and combat protectionism. We also need to step up cooperation between all parties involved, combine our resources with the expertise of sponsor countries to develop agriculture in the ASEM region".

During the session, the conference admitted 4 new members to ASEP including Australia, Myanmar, New Zealand and Russia bringing the total membership now to 47.