PHNOM PENH, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Asia-Europe parliamentarians vowed to strengthen multilateralism and global partnership for peace, stability and development based on the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and international law, according to a declaration released on late Tuesday.
The declaration was released after the 11th Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP11) convened via videoconference chaired by Cambodia.
"ASEP11 remained committed to an open, transparent, non-discriminatory, inclusive and rule-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core," it said.
"The meeting iterated its commitment of refraining from any form of unilateralism and protectionist measures implemented contrary to international law, including the WTO agreements and the UN Charter."
It added that ASEP11 stressed the need to further promote multilateralism and international order based on international law, anchored on the UN, in addressing both traditional and non-traditional security issues, particularly in the time of a pandemic.
The parliamentarians acknowledged that COVID-19 is the most challenging global public health issue of modern times that has serious ramifications on the socio-economic situation in Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit partners.
"The meeting recognized the imperative of international cooperation to overcome socio-economic impacts from the pandemic, by strengthening the global health system and accelerating the universal health coverage and ensuring an equitable and timely access to quality, safe, effective, affordable vaccines, medicines, vaccination certificates as well as other relevant medical supplies," the declaration said.
The ASEP11 acknowledged the importance of pursuing collaboration among ASEM partners on interoperability and mutual recognition of national documents of vaccination against COVID-19, it said.
The parliamentarians also pledged to further promote multilateral cooperation to mutually support one another in the post-pandemic socio-economic recovery with a focus on areas of trade liberalization and customs and trade facilitation, free flow of capital, labor, technology, and innovation, among others.
"ASEP11 called for the promotion and protection of open multilateralism based on international law to maintain the momentum of economic globalization, while reaffirming the commitment to maintaining stable and unimpeded global supply chains," the declaration said.
In his opening remarks of the ASEP11, Cambodia's National Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin reiterated the importance of multilateralism and international cooperation, saying that they are key to addressing global issues and challenges such as epidemic diseases and climate change.
"International solidarity and multilateralism are the fundamental principles for maintaining peace, stability, progress and prosperity for our two regions in particular and the world at large," he said. Enditem