The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) should strengthen its cooperation with the United Nations to meet the needs in dealing with international affairs, a senior Chinese lawmaker said on Wednesday.

 

Speaking at an IPU assembly in Geneva, Lu Congmin, deputy director of the foreign affairs committee of the National People's Congress(NPC), said the IPU's joint efforts with the world body should be focused on achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals and implementing IPU assembly resolutions to promote economic growth, social stability and ethnic amity.

 

In particular, the major concerns of developing countries need to be addressed, Lu said.

 

The NPC will, as always, commit itself to promoting ties between the IPU and the UN, Lu added.

 

Lawmakers from 147 countries gathered here from October 8-10 to discuss the role of parliaments in promoting democracy and safeguarding security.

 

Other items for discussion included migrant workers, people trafficking, xenophobia, UN affairs and the parliamentary overseeing of state policies on foreign aid. The situation in Myanmar was included as an emergency item.

 

The Chinese lawmaker called for a "cautious, responsible" attitude in dealing with the situation in Myanmar.

 

The international community should support and encourage efforts aimed at stabilizing Myanmar and achieving political reconciliation in the country, Lu said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2007)