The APPF
The Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) is the Asia Pacific’s premier parliamentary forum that brings together representatives of the people of 28 countries to discuss pressing political, security and socio-economic issues and challenges of common concern confronting the region. As a regional parliamentary forum, the APPF reflects the spirit of multilateralism, emphasizing common goals and values of the peoples of the Asia Pacific.
The APPF provides a crucial dialogue mechanism that enables parliamentarians to engage with their counterparts, thus furthering regional cooperation within the Asia Pacific region. The APPF meets annually and its venue is rotated among its Members.
Brief History and Objectives
An initiative of former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, the APPF’s inaugural meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan in 1993. In this meeting, the organization’s foundational document, the Tokyo Declaration, established the APPF’s objectives, principles, and structure.
The APPF primarily seeks to:
- provide opportunities for national parliamentarians of the Asia Pacific region to identify and discuss matters of common concern and interest and to highlight them in a global context
- deepen their understanding of the policy concerns, interests and experiences of the countries of the region;
- examine the critical political, social, and cultural developments resulting from economic growth and integration;
- encourage and promote regional cooperation at all levels on matters of common concern to the region; and
- play the roles of national parliamentarians in furthering their respective countries’ sense of regional cohesion, understanding and cooperation.
APPF membership is open to all national parliaments of sovereign states in the Asia Pacific region, particularly from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
During APPF’s Second Annual Meeting in Manila in 1994, the Resolution which provides for the Rules of Procedure was adopted.
List of Annual Meetings
Inaugural Meeting, Tokyo, Japan, January 13-15, 1993
2nd Meeting, Manila, Philippines, January 14-15, 1994
3rd Annual Meeting, Acapulco, Mexico, January 13-15, 1995
4th Annual Meeting, Cha-am, Thailand, January 15-18, 1996
5th Annual Meeting, Vancouver, Canada, January 7-10, 1997
6th Annual Meeting, Seoul, Republic of Korea, January 7-10, 1998
7th Annual Meeting, Lima, Peru, January 11-14, 1999
8th Annual Meeting, Canberra, Australia, January 8-14, 2000
9th Annual Meeting, Valparaiso, Chile, January 14-19, 2001
10th Annual Meeting, Hawaii, U.S.A., January 6-9, 2002
11th Annual Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, January 13-15, 2003
12th Annual Meeting, Beijing, China, January 12-14, 2004
13th Annual Meeting, Halong City, Vietnam, January 10-13, 2005
14th Annual Meeting, Jakarta, Indonesia, January 15-20, 2006
15th Annual Meeting, Russian Federation, January 21-26, 2007
16th Annual Meeting, New Zealand, January 20-24, 2008
17th Annual Meeting, Vientiane, Laos, January 11-15, 2009
18th Annual Meeting, Singapore, January 17-22, 2010
19th Annual Meeting, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, January 23-27, 2011
20th Annual Meeting, Tokyo, Japan, January 8-12, 2012
21st Annual Meeting, Vladivostok, Russian Federation, 27-31 January 2013
22nd Annual Meeting, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 12-16 January 2014
23rd Annual Meeting, Quito, Ecuador, 10-15 January 2015
24th Annual Meeting, Vancouver, Canada, 17-21 January 2016
25th Annual Meeting, Natadola, Fiji, 15-19 January 2017
26th Annual Meeting, 18-21 January 2018, Hanoi, Vietnam
27th Annual Meeting, Siem Reap, Cambodia,14 to 17 January 2019
28th Annual Meeting, Canberra, Australia, 13 to 16 January 2020
29th Annual Meeting (virtual), Seoul, Republic of Korea, 13-15 Dec. 2021
30th Annual Meeting, Bangkok, Thailand, 26 to 29 October 2022
Parliamentary Dimension to APEC
This focus on Asia-Pacific regional identity dovetails with the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum’s (APEC) purpose of providing greater strategic vision and direction for cooperation in the region. To a great extent, the APPF acts as the legislative dimension of APEC and provides parliamentarians the opportunity to discuss and provide parliamentary oversight on commitments made particularly on trade and investments made by governments in APEC such as the Putrajaya Vision 2040 and the actions set out in the Aotearoa Plan of Action.
Milestone Declarations
Tokyo Declaration
In 1993, at the First Meeting in Tokyo, Japan, the Tokyo Declaration was adopted by 59 parliamentarians from 15 nations, establishing the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) as an inter-parliamentary organization.
The Tokyo Declaration outlined the objectives, activities, guiding principles, membership requirements, and administrative structure of the APPF.
Manila Declaration
In 1994, the Second Annual Meeting took place in Manila, Philippines, where a resolution was adopted covering the rules of procedure to govern administrative matters within the APPF.
Vancouver Declaration
In 1997, during the Fifth Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Canada, the Vancouver Declaration was adopted, outlining the vision and goals of the organization for the 21st century.
Valparaiso Declaration
In 2001, the Ninth Annual Meeting held in Valparaiso, Chile adopted the Valparaiso Declaration, establishing the Pacific Basin Charter for the 21st Century.
New Tokyo Declaration
In 2012, at the 20th Annual Meeting held in Tokyo, Japan, the APPF adopted the New Tokyo Declaration to reaffirm the enduring principles upheld by the APPF and provide guidance for its future direction.
Hanoi Declaration
In 2018, the 25th Annual Meeting outlined the development plans of APPF until 2030 through the adoption of the Hanoi Declaration.