Building peace through parliaments and political parties

As the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) convened for its 46th General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur last Sept. 16 to 22, 2025, we look back with deep gratitude on the long and evolving journey of inter-parliamentary cooperation in our region — a journey that we have been privileged, in some small way, to help nurture.

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We are profoundly honored that AIPA has chosen to confer upon us the Distinguished Service Award. This recognition humbles us deeply, for it is not ours alone. We share it with our colleagues, partners, and friends across Asia and beyond who have stood with us in advancing dialogue, peace, and cooperation. Whatever we may have achieved was never the work of one, but of many, working together to build understanding and solidarity across nations.

It is worth recalling that the roots of AIPA itself are in Manila. On Sept. 2, 1977, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization (AIPO) was born, with representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand signing its founding declaration. That moment — hosted by the Philippine Congress — marked the beginning of structured parliamentary cooperation in Southeast Asia.