Vientiane, Lao PDR, 21 October 2024 — The Honourable Mrs. Lok Kheng, Chairwoman of the National Assembly Commission on Health, Social Affairs, Veterans, Youth Rehabilitation, Labour, Vocational Training, and Women’s Affairs, has met with Norwegian and Japanese lawmakers on the sidelines of the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

Lawmakers from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam met with members of AIPA Observer Parliaments on Sunday under the theme of enhancing connectivity and inclusive growth.

To the Norwegian side, the Honourable Mrs. Lok Kheng proposed:

1. Closer cooperation in cybersecurity, public health, green transport, economic development, and climate change;
2. Cooperation in areas such as peace, renewable energy, digitalization, and environmental protection;
3. Referring to the ASEAN Resolution on Green Jobs to promote sustainable jobs that respect human rights;
4. Sharing best practices in providing technical assistance and supporting gender equality in education for inclusive growth in ASEAN; and
5. Strengthening parliamentary cooperation at all levels from the leadership of parliamentary expert committees and friendship groups to the professional and technical levels, especially in the transfer of technology to support e-parliament.

To the Japanese side, the Honourable Mrs. Lok Kheng proposed:

1. Expanding capacity-building programs to further address parliamentary work to make legislatures more efficient and better equipped to address challenges associated with inclusive growth;
2. Promoting transfers of modern technology and innovative implementation from Japan to ASEAN to increase the quality and sustainability of infrastructure; and
3. Continuing to support the development of the Mekong subregion through laws and procedures to encourage private-sector investment.