Parliamentary delegates from 39 countries at the third annual meeting of the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP) called Wednesday for stronger parliamentary cooperation for co-development among Asian countries.

China's top legislator Li Peng was elected president of the third annual meeting of the AAPP.

During the general debate, participants discussed a number of topics including multi-polarization and world peace, economic globalization and the developing countries, international cooperation and the establishment of new international political and economic orders.

The debate was jointly presided over by Li Peng and the vice-president Norodom Ranarith. A total of 12 delegation heads or deputy heads took the floor.

The delegates extended their congratulations to Li Peng, saying that the AAPP, under Li's leadership, will reach new heights.

A common concern about the tension in the Middle East was expressed. The delegates hoped that the Israel-Palestine issue could be solved, and the two peoples could enjoy a happy and peaceful life as soon as possible.

A delegate with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said the DPRK is confident of a gradual reunification of the Korean Peninsula through peaceful means, with the common efforts of the two sides and the international community.

Delegates from Bahrain, Bangladesh and Cyprus spoke highly of the conference theme of Peace and Development, saying that the widening gap between the rich and the poor has forged the biggest obstacle to world peace. 　　

Karim AL-Shakar, the ambassador of Bahrain to China, said that most Asian countries are now confronting tough issues including poverty and illiteracy, which are left over by years of colonization or semi-colonization.

Barrister Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar, speaker of the Bangladesh parliament, said that the establishment of the AAPP in 1999 offered a valuable opportunity for Asian countries with different cultural and historical backgrounds to gather and work for their co-progress.

Globalization means more challenges than opportunities to developing countries in Asia, and demands much closer ties among Asian countries, said Sircar.

On international affairs, delegates unanimously called for a respect for the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant resolutions, to establish a more justified international political order against terrorism, separatism and racism.

Deputy Speaker Mohsen Armin, of Iran, said that international community should make a clear-cut definition of terrorism and no parallel should be made between national liberation activities and terrorism activities.

Nicolas Fattouche, deputy head of the National Assembly of Lebanon, said that peace is a premise to the world's sustained development, and no countries are allowed to infringe upon the sovereignty of others by making the war against terrorism an excuse.

Delegates also elaborated their views on human rights. Norodom Ranarith, president of the Cambodian National Assembly, called for more protection of the interests of women and children.

Delegates said that parliamentary organizations of Asian countries should explore more channels for deeper collaboration and better echo the needs of the grassroots.

Delegates from Indonesia, Iraq and Kiribati also made speeches during the debate.

(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2002)