Report

From 26–29 October 2022, the Honorouable Senator Stan Kutcher, Co-Chair of the Canada–Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, led a delegation to the 30^th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) in Bangkok, Thailand. The delegation also comprised the following parliamentarians who are members of either the Canada–China Legislative Association or the Canada–Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group: Senator Paul Massicotte, Co-Chair of the Canada–China Legislative Association; Han Dong, MP, Co-Chair of the Canada–China Legislative Association; Terry Sheehan, MP, Co-Chair of the Canada–Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group; Senator Victor Oh; Senator Jim Quinn; Michael Cooper, MP; Yves Perron, MP; and Lianne Rood, MP.

The delegation was accompanied by Grant McLaughlin, Executive Secretary, and Colin Sawatzky, Advisor.

OVERVIEW OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM

The APPF brings together parliamentarians from across the Asia-Pacific region. The APPF was founded by the late Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone. The inaugural meeting was held in Tokyo in 1993. Currently, the national parliaments of the following 28 jurisdictions are APPF members: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Viet Nam. Canada is a founding member of the APPF, and hosted the APPF’s 5^th and 24^th annual meetings in Vancouver in 1997 and 2016, respectively.

As a regional parliamentary forum, the APPF enables parliamentarians to: discuss issues of common concern; deepen their understanding of the interests and experiences of the region’s diverse member parliaments; advance regional cooperation; and build relationships. In general, parliamentarians debate political, security, economic, social and cultural issues facing the Asia-Pacific region, leading to the adoption of resolutions and a joint communiqué.

The APPF’s secretariat functions are undertaken by the host parliament for a one-year term from May in the year preceding the annual meeting that will be hosted by that parliament until the following April. One of the host parliament’s primary responsibilities is developing the draft agenda for the annual meeting. The draft agenda’s development is carried out under the direction of the APPF’s president, who is appointed by the host parliament to represent the APPF during its one-year mandate. The host parliament is selected following discussion among the APPF member parliaments.

The APPF’s executive committee comprises representatives of two parliaments from each of the APPF’s four sub-regions: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania and the Americas. At the annual meeting, representatives are elected to fill any positions vacated by a member parliament whose term has ended. The executive committee, which is responsible for matters relating to management of the APPF, is chaired by the APPF’s president and convenes prior to the annual meeting’s inaugural ceremony to make decisions about the agenda, the draft resolutions submitted by delegations from member parliaments, the establishment of the drafting committee and designation of its chair, and the formation of working groups. The executive committee also confirms the host parliament for the next annual meeting.

The annual meeting is the APPF’s “highest decision-making organ.” Its agenda identifies topics that will be the focus of plenary sessions that are organized along general themes. Typically, these themes are: political and security matters; economic and trade matters; regional development cooperation; and women parliamentarians. In addition to attending the plenary sessions, parliamentary delegations consider draft resolutions. During the annual meeting, the draft resolutions are examined by the drafting committee. If multiple draft resolutions are submitted on the same or similar topics, the working groups create draft joint resolutions for the drafting committee’s consideration.

The drafting committee and the working groups make decisions consensually. Representatives from all delegations can participate in the work of the drafting committee and the working groups, which meet concurrently with the plenary sessions. The drafting committee also finalizes the annual meeting’s joint communiqué. The final resolutions and the joint communiqué are approved in a final plenary session.

The APPF’s annual meetings allow Canadian parliamentarians from the Canada–China Legislative Association and the Canada–Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group to build relationships with their counterparts from across the Asia-Pacific region in a forum where they can work together to address the issues facing the region.

THE 30^TH ANNUAL MEETING

The president for the APPF’s 30^th Annual Meeting was Chuan Leekpai, President of Thailand’s National Assembly. The annual meeting was attended by 143 delegates from 20 member parliaments: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Micronesia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Viet Nam. Other attendees were representatives of: Uzbekistan’s parliament; the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Secretariat; the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Secretariat; the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP); and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The overarching theme for the 30^th Annual Meeting was “Parliaments and the Post-COVID-19 Sustainable Development.” In addition to the meeting of the executive committee, the agenda included plenary sessions during which delegates debated various aspects of that theme. Moreover, in working groups and the drafting committee, delegates considered 34 draft resolutions that had been submitted by nine member parliaments. In addition, the Meeting of Women Parliamentarians was held.

At the annual meeting’s inaugural ceremony, the following individuals made remarks:

• Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, President of Thailand’s Senate;

• Chuan Leekpai;

• Changhyun Yun, leader the South Korean delegation and Chair of the APPF’s 29^th Annual Meeting;

• Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO’s Director-General; and

• Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) and UN ESCAP’s Executive Secretary.

Throughout the annual meeting, the Canadian delegation discussed matters pertinent to Canadian foreign policy and its four draft resolutions:

1. Promoting Parliamentary Diplomacy for Regional Security;
2. Protecting Biodiversity in the Context of Climate Change and Air Pollution;
3. Developing Health Care Services and Facilitating Equal Access to Primary Health Care; and
4. Strengthening Women’s Participation in Post–COVID-19 Economic Recovery.

ACTIVITIES OF THE CANADIAN DELEGATION

A. Executive Committee   

Because Canada is one of the executive committee’s two representatives for the Americas sub-region, Senator Kutcher attended the meeting of the executive committee. It met to approve the agenda for the 30^th Annual Meeting, confirm the organization of the drafting committee and establish four working groups:

• women parliamentarians;

• political and security matters;

• economic and trade matters; and

• regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

The executive committee was informed about the attendance of representatives from the five organizations identified above and a temporary observer delegation from Uzbekistan. That country’s parliament – the Oliy Majlis – requested that it be permitted to attend the APPF’s annual meetings as a permanent observer from 2022 onward. However, the executive committee noted that the decision to invite observer parliaments is made by the host parliament for each annual meeting.

Regarding a vacancy on the executive committee that is to be filled by a second representative for the Americas sub-region, the Canadian delegation was asked to consult with its sub-region.

The executive committee confirmed that the host parliament for the APPF’s 31^st Annual Meeting will be the Philippines.

A review of Russia’s membership in the APPF was raised in accordance with Article 7 of the APPF’s Rules of Procedure, which states that “membership of the APPF will be reviewed from time to time.” Chuan Leekpai indicated that such a review would require a clear mandate and resolution from the APPF’s member parliaments. As a result, there was unanimous agreement that the issue will be discussed further at the next annual meeting.

Finally, the executive committee considered a proposal for the representatives of its sub-regions to have a two-year term of office, rather than the current four-year term. It was agreed that this proposed change would be approved at the final plenary session in accordance with Article 29, which states that “all decisions of the APPF will be made by consensus at the Annual Meeting. When decisions are required on substantive matters, the principle of unanimity shall be observed.”

B. Plenary Sessions   

1. Session 1: Political and Security Matters   

Session 1 was chaired by Kiat Sittheeamorn, a member of Thailand’s House of Representatives. The three political- and security-related themes discussed in the session were:

• promoting parliamentary diplomacy for regional security;

• strengthening cyber security in the Asia-Pacific region; and

• parliaments and a post–COVID-19 sustainable recovery to promote democracy, peace and security.

Han Dong attended the session and drew attention to the importance of collective parliamentary dialogue, which can contribute to more effective diplomacy and peace than is the case with intimidating and destructive actions – including military force – that countries might take unilaterally. Suggesting that the use of diplomacy instead of force is especially important in the wake of Russia’s most recent invasion of Ukraine, Han Dong called on APPF member countries to refrain from taking actions that violate the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, specifically respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of UN member states within their internationally recognized borders.

Finally, with a focus on promoting peace and prosperity for the Asia-Pacific region and the planet, Han Dong identified a need for APPF member countries to make progress toward achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, whose focus is peace, justice and strong institutions. Han Dong called on parliamentarians to harness their legislative, budgetary and oversight functions to address – not exacerbate – many of the political, social and economic challenges that undermine regional and global peace and security.

2. Session 2: Economic and Trade Matters   

Session 2 was chaired by Weerasak Kowsurat, a member of Thailand’s Senate. The two economic- and trade-related themes discussed in the session were:

• promoting biodiversity and the green economy for inclusive development; and

• strengthening connectivity and enhancing the digital economy in the Asia-Pacific region.

Senator Oh attended the session and underscored that – between 1970 and 2018 – the world experienced a decrease in populations of monitored wildlife species, a decline that is continuing. According to Senator Oh, although land-use change is the biggest threat to plant and animal species, climate change is likely to become the dominant threat if the rise in global average temperature exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average. As well, Senator Oh drew attention to the “triple planetary crisis” of biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution, noting the interconnectedness of these crises and the potential for them to have common solutions.

Finally, Senator Oh called on APPF member countries to take actions in four areas: set ambitious goals for formally protecting land and waters; protect species at risk; collaborate in seeking to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions; and work to ensure that developed countries – collectively – make available US$100 billion annually in climate finance.

3. Session 3: Regional Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region   

Session 3 was chaired by Virasakdi Futrakul, a member of Thailand’s Senate. The three regional cooperation–related themes discussed in the session were:

• parliaments and promoting the use of renewable energy to achieve carbon neutrality/net-zero emissions;

• developing health care services and facilitating equal access to primary health care; and

• promoting regional tourism and an understanding of cultural diversity.

Senator Quinn attended the session and asserted both that health is a fundamental human right and that access to high-quality health care services is critical for social and economic development. Noting that the WHO projects a shortage of 15 million health care workers by 2030, with such shortages likely to affect low- and middle-income countries disproportionately, Senator Quinn encouraged APPF member countries to invest in the health care workforce, especially those working in primary health care settings.

Regarding equal access to primary health care, Senator Quinn emphasized that the 2018 Declaration of Astana identifies existing inequities in health and calls for the implementation of sustainable primary health care for all, while the 2019 UN resolution on universal health coverage advocates strengthening primary health care. In Senator Quinn’s view, APPF member countries should develop or strengthen policies aimed at eliminating inequities in access to health care services.

Finally, Senator Quinn mentioned that the COVID-19 pandemic has strained health care services in many countries and contended that international cooperation concerning health care delivery – including through such forums as the APPF – is more urgent now than at any other point in history.

4. Meeting of Women Parliamentarians   

The Meeting of Women Parliamentarians was chaired by Pechdau Tohmeena, a member of Thailand’s House of Representatives. The two women-related themes discussed during the meeting were:

• empowering women to cope with future crises; and

• strengthening women’s participation in post–COVID-19 economic recovery.

Yves Perron and Lianne Rood attended the meeting. Lianne Rood noted that, during the pandemic, women experienced disproportionate job and income losses, increased care burdens, and more violence and harassment. In Lianne Rood’s opinion, as seen in the UN’s approach to gender-responsive recovery, actions for supporting women’s economic recovery from the pandemic include providing enhanced economic support to women who experience intersecting forms of discrimination, strengthening women’s ongoing and equal participation in public and political life, and ensuring equal rights and responsibilities within families.

Finally, drawing attention to two themes of importance to the Canadian delegation, Lianne Rood encouraged consideration of gender equality in the development and implementation of all policies, strategies, programs, laws and regulations related to COVID-19 response and recovery, specifically noting the process undertaken by the UN Research Roadmap for COVID-19 Recovery; and the prioritization of programs and policies designed to empower women and girls beyond the pandemic.

C. Draft Resolutions    

Delegations from nine member parliaments – Canada, Chile, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, South Korea and Thailand – submitted a total of 34 draft resolutions for consideration at the 30th Annual Meeting; as noted earlier, the Canadian delegation submitted four draft resolutions. The topics addressed in the 34 draft resolutions included biodiversity, carbon neutrality, climate change, connectivity and the digital economy, cyber security, economic cooperation and trade, gender-responsive budgeting, the green economy, health care, parliaments post–COVID-19, peace and security, regional cooperation in culture and tourism, renewable energy, stability on the Korean Peninsula, terrorism and women’s empowerment.

The working groups consolidated the texts of draft resolutions that were submitted on the same or a similar theme.

1. Promoting Parliamentary Diplomacy for Regional Security   

The Canadian delegation’s draft resolution entitled “Promoting Parliamentary Diplomacy for Regional Security” proposed parliamentary diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region as a way of strengthening trust and understanding between and among APPF member parliaments. It emphasized that both non-traditional and traditional security challenges have a destabilizing effect on regional and national security, and called on member parliaments to refrain from taking actions that support or foment aggression and war against independent states and their citizens, or that violate the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Finally, with the goal of preventing conflict and contributing to lasting peace in the Asia-Pacific region, the draft resolution urged member parliaments to be accountable, representative and inclusive – regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or religion – in addressing inequalities and managing competing interests through dialogue and debate in open, tolerant and democratic societies.

2. Protecting Biodiversity in the Context of Climate Change and Air Pollution   

The Canadian delegation’s draft resolution entitled “Protecting Biodiversity in the Context of Climate Change and Air Pollution” advocated a stronger role for Indigenous peoples, youth, women and local communities in efforts to address climate change, reduce air pollution and protect biodiversity. It also encouraged the protection of land and waters, and support for the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, which has a voluntary global target to protect at least 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030. Emphasizing the need for near-term actions that will yield measurable progress in protecting species at risk and that will contribute to protecting and restoring biodiversity, the draft resolution called for collaboration among countries with the goal of accelerating global emissions reductions, including through the development of carbon markets.

3. Developing Health Care Services and Facilitating Equal Access to Primary Health Care   

The Canadian delegation’s draft resolution entitled “Developing Health Care Services and Facilitating Equal Access to Primary Health Care” underscored the priority of both improving access to high-quality health care services for all and removing geographical, cultural, social, economic and other barriers to accessing primary health care. It encouraged APPF member countries to take actions that would ensure equitable, appropriate and affordable access to high-quality primary health care, and emphasized the need for investments in the health care workforce. As well, inviting the world’s high-income countries to provide support to low- and middle-income countries in order to expand capacity in primary health care and train health care workers, the draft resolution advocated the allocation of an additional 1% of gross domestic product to primary health care with the goal of implementing the WHO’s recommendation to address current gaps in services.

4. Strengthening Women’s Participation in Post–COVID-19 Economic Recovery   

The Canadian delegation’s draft resolution entitled “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Post–Covid-19 Economic Recovery” drew attention to the commitment by a number of jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific region to realizing the United Nations’ Women, Peace and Security Agenda, as well as to including women and girls in peace, security and humanitarian processes in a meaningful way. It promoted mechanisms that support women experiencing pandemic-induced job loss to re-enter the workforce as soon as possible, if desired, and urged consideration of gender equality in the development and implementation of policies, strategies, programs, laws and regulations designed to respond to – and recover from – the COVID-19 pandemic. As well, the draft resolution requested that programs and policies designed to empower women and girls should be prioritized with the goal of ensuring that progress is not stalled or reversed because of the pandemic. Finally, it condemned all incidents of violence directed against women and girls, in both workplace and domestic settings, and encouraged the implementation of policies and measures to reduce such violence and provide services for those affected by it.

D. Working Groups   

1. Political and Security Matters   

The delegations from Canada, Malaysia, Russia and Thailand submitted draft resolutions concerning parliamentary diplomacy and regional security. During deliberations on those draft resolutions, Senator Massicotte, Han Dong and the delegations from Australia and Japan successfully proposed that the paragraph in the Russian delegation’s draft resolution referring to the “indivisible” nature of security be deleted from the draft joint resolution on regional security. Senator Massicotte and Han Dong also supported the delegations from Australia, Japan and Micronesia in opposing the Russian delegation’s proposal to remove the word “violent” in the phrase “violent extremism” from the draft joint resolution on regional security.

The working group also examined the draft resolution submitted by the delegation from Thailand relating to cyber security, and the draft resolutions submitted by the delegations from Japan and South Korea concerning denuclearization and peace on the Korean peninsula. Senator Massicotte and Han Dong contributed to efforts designed to find agreeable language on various issues that arose during discussions about those three draft resolutions.

2. Economic and Trade Matters   

The delegations from Canada, Japan, Mexico and Thailand submitted draft resolutions on similar topics: biodiversity, carbon neutrality, clean energy technologies, climate change, the green economy and renewable energy. The working group prepared several draft joint resolutions. Many paragraphs in the draft resolutions submitted by the delegations from Japan, Mexico and Thailand were similar. Senator Oh and Terry Sheehan were successful in having most of the preambulatory and operative clauses in the Canadian delegation’s draft resolution added to the draft joint resolutions.

3. Regional Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region   

The delegations from Canada, Japan, Mexico, Russia and Thailand submitted draft resolutions that addressed carbon neutrality, climate change, health care, renewable energy and tourism. Regarding health care, Senator Kutcher, Senator Quinn and Michael Cooper were successful in having several preambulatory and operative clauses from the Canadian delegation’s draft resolution included in the draft joint resolution on the topic. As well, they were supported by the delegations from Australia and Micronesia in their efforts to add an operative clause to that resolution condemning “any member in the event that their invasion and/or attack on another country causes injury, suffering or death of civilians, destroys or damages health care facilities and/or disrupts access to the delivery of health care.” Describing the operative clause as “political,” the Russian delegation suggested that the clause was not related to the topic of health care and, at the end of the draft joint resolution, indicated its opposition to the clause.

4. Women Parliamentarians   

The delegations from Canada, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia and Thailand submitted draft resolutions related to gender issues. Yves Perron and Lianne Rood successfully opposed several clauses contained in the Russian delegation’s draft resolution, including those that promoted gender stereotypes. The working group reached consensus on one draft resolution and two draft joint resolutions. Several clauses from Canada’s draft resolution on women’s participation in post–COVID–19 economic recovery were included in the draft joint resolution on the topic, along with clauses from the draft resolutions submitted by the delegations from Mexico and Thailand.

E. Drafting Committee   

Members of various delegations were involved in the drafting committee’s work, including Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Viet Nam. The work primarily focused on finalizing the draft resolutions referred to it by the four working groups.

One draft joint resolution – post–COVID–19 recovery (jointly sponsored by Chile, Indonesia and Mexico) – and one draft resolution – cyber security (sponsored by Thailand, with Australia, Cambodia, Canada and Malaysia jointly co-sponsoring) – from the political and security matters working group were referred to the final plenary session for adoption. The Canadian delegation’s draft resolution concerning parliamentary diplomacy and regional security was the focus of various efforts and side meetings that the host parliament organized in an effort to gain agreement on the issues. The Canadian delegation felt strongly that the wording in its draft resolution that emphasized respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states accurately reflected the severity of the invasion of Ukraine and the concerns of many in the international community. Notwithstanding the support of some delegations, members of the drafting committee could not reach consensus and the Canadian delegation’s draft resolution was not referred for adoption.

Three draft joint resolutions from the economic and trade matters working group were referred to the final plenary session for adoption: one on biodiversity and the green economy (jointly sponsored by Chile, Indonesia and Thailand); one on the digital economy (jointly sponsored by Mexico, Russia and Thailand); and one on several environmental issues, including biodiversity and carbon neutrality (jointly sponsored by Canada, Japan, Mexico and Thailand). The last resolution incorporated clauses from draft resolutions on the topics of renewable energy and carbon neutrality/net-zero emissions (sponsored by Mexico and Thailand) that were reviewed by the working group on regional cooperation.

Two draft joint resolutions from the regional cooperation working group were referred to the final plenary session for adoption: one on health care (jointly sponsored by Canada and Thailand); and one on tourism and cultural diversity (jointly sponsored by Russia and Thailand).

One draft resolution and two draft joint resolutions from the women parliamentarians working group were referred to the final plenary session for adoption. The topics were: enhancing the effectiveness of gender-responsive budgeting (sponsored by Malaysia, with Australia, Cambodia, Canada and Thailand jointly co-sponsoring); women’s participation in post–COVID–19 economic recovery (jointly sponsored by Canada, Mexico and Thailand, and co-sponsored by Japan); and empowering women to deal with crises (jointly sponsored by Russia and Thailand). Regarding the draft resolution submitted by the delegation from Malaysia, Senator Kutcher successfully opposed attempts by the Russian delegation to restrict the scope of the language by indicating that the delegation’s proposal to change “gender-responsive” to “gender-sensitive” would change the meaning. In particular, Senator Kutcher argued that – with the proposed change – the focus would become awareness about the ways in which gender influences the opportunities of individuals in society, instead of actively addressing the causes of gender inequality.

In summary, three draft joint resolutions were referred to the final plenary session for adoption that incorporate clauses contained in three of the four draft resolutions submitted by the Canadian delegation. The final resolutions jointly sponsored by Canada were entitled: “Parliaments and the Promotion of Biodiversity and the Use of Renewable Energy, as well as Clean Energy Technologies in Particular Low-Emission Technologies to Achieve Carbon Neutrality / Net Zero Emissions”; “Developing Health Care Services and Facilitating Equitable Access to Primary Health Care”; and “Strengthening Women’s Participation in Post–COVID–19 Recovery.” As well, the Canadian delegation co-sponsored two draft resolutions that were also referred for adoption. They were entitled: “Strengthening Cyber Security in the Asia-Pacific Region”; and “Enhancing the Effectiveness of Gender-Responsive Budgeting.”

In addition to its work on the draft resolutions, the drafting committee finalized the joint communiqué for the 30^th Annual Meeting.

F. Final Plenary Session   

The 30^th Annual Meeting concluded with the formal adoption, at the final plenary session, of the 10 draft resolutions referred by the drafting committee. Accordingly, the APPF member parliaments resolved to take action on a number of issues addressed in these resolutions, including supporting peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening cyber security, promoting biodiversity and the green economy, encouraging regional tourism, facilitating equitable access to primary health care, undertaking gender-responsive budgeting and urging women’s empowerment.

All participating delegations signed the joint communiqué, with Senator Kutcher doing so on behalf of the Canadian delegation.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE CANADIAN DELEGATION

Prior to the APPF’s 30^th Annual Meeting, the Canadian delegation received a briefing from Sarah Taylor, Canada’s Ambassador to Thailand. Ambassador Taylor spoke about Canada–Thailand relations, domestic developments in Thailand and regional affairs, and provided an overview of the work of the Canadian Embassy in Thailand. The delegation was then joined by members of the Thailand-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group for a discussion about a range of issues. Senator Kutcher and Ambassador Taylor delivered remarks, noting the recent 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and Thailand.

In preparation for the annual meeting, the Canadian delegation held consultations with the representatives of delegations of such like-minded partners as Japan, Australia and New Zealand. In some cases, these meetings supplemented other recent meetings. For example, Senator Kutcher had met with some members of the Japanese delegation when the Co-Chairs of the Canada Japan Inter–Parliamentary Group were in Tokyo on 14 October 2022. In addition, on 17 October, the Canadian delegation participated in a virtual meeting hosted by Japan; other participants at the meeting included parliamentarians from Australia and New Zealand, who were also at the APPF’s 30^th Annual Meeting. While in Thailand, the Canadian delegation met in person with members from the following delegations: Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and Viet Nam. In general, these meetings provided an opportunity for discussions about issues important to Canada. Topics discussed during these meetings included: Canada’s forthcoming Indo-Pacific strategy; Indigenous reconciliation; political, economic, social and security developments in the Asia-Pacific region, both overall and bilaterally; and cooperation to resolve issues of common concern.

CONCLUSION

The Canadian delegation had a high profile at the APPF’s 30^th Annual Meeting. In particular, delegates were very involved in the drafting committee’s work, played constructive roles in the working groups, actively contributed to the discussions about several topics in the plenary sessions, jointly sponsored three resolutions that incorporated clauses from Canada’s draft resolutions and co-sponsored two resolutions introduced by other delegations. The Canadian delegation received many positive comments about their engagement, and Canadian parliamentarians look forward to participating in the APPF’s 31^st Annual Meeting.

Respectfully submitted,