The 20 th annual Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) closed inTokyo on Jan. 12, with a Joint Statement and new Tokyo Declaration toorient the forum’s future development being adopted.

Under the new Tokyo Declaration, delegates affirmed the commitment topromote open and indiscriminative cooperation via seven principlesruling Asia-Pacific countries’ relations, as mentioned in the VancouverDeclaration and the Pacific Basin Charter of Valparaiso Declaration.

Participants said strengthening APPF’s framework andprocedures is of special importance in determining the forum’s positionto deal more effectively with structural changes in the Asia-Pacificregion and international community, as well as challenges andopportunities emerging from these structural changes.

APPF Honorary President Yasuhiro Nakasone said that participantsadopted an amended draft on APPF’s formality regulations compiled byJapan , to provide specific proposals for the forum’s reforms.

The delegates pledged to seek measures for issues faced by theregional and international community and strengthen efforts to ensureprosperity for the region and the world.

Theyalso adopted 13 resolutions, notably resolution on promoting cultural,educational and people-to-people exchanges in the Asia-Pacific region,strengthening regional peace and security, cooperating in the fightagainst natural disasters and ensuring food security, energy and nuclearsafety.

APPF was established in 1993 to provide aforum for parliamentarians to discuss measures to promote regionalcooperation towards the goals of ensuring peace and development, as wellas promoting exchange activities among regional cultures./.