Parliamentary delegations from 10 countries arrived in Chongqing
Sunday to attend the third annual meeting of the
Association of Asian Parliaments
for Peace (AAPP).
A
total of 39 countries' parliaments have so far registered to
participate in the meeting. Diplomatic envoys to China from some
Asian countries will also attend the meeting.
The meeting, with the theme of "Peace and Development," will
discuss three topics: multi-polarization and peace, globalization
and developing countries, and international cooperation for the
promotion of a new world political order.
Chongqing has been
making preparations for this annual meeting. The security
department of the municipal government has worked out a thorough
security plan, with public security forces strategically deployed.
Some residents have also been mobilized to help keep order.
The annual meeting of the AAPP is the biggest international
conference to be hosted by Chongqing since its becoming a
municipality just five years ago. The local government believes
that the meeting is a good chance to show to the outside world the
great changes the city has undergone in recent years.
The AAPP, a regional organization representing parliaments from
countries in Asia and the south Pacific as well as sovereign
countries with territories in Asia, will launch the meeting in
Beijing on April 16 and then move to the western Chinese city of
Chongqing the following day.
(China Daily April 15,
2002)