Page 16 - BUKU STRENGTHENING THE INDONESIAN PARLIAMENTARY DIPLOMACY FADLI ZON

Quest for Asian Parliament

in Asian Century

It is with great privilege and pleasure that I can be here, to be among you, prominent political
figures of Asian Countries in this seventh Plenary Session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly
(APA) held in the rich historical and cultural city of Punjab Region, Lahore.

The idea in bringing the unity of Asia is timely as we are on the era of Asian Century. It is
something that has been envisioned by our people long ago. Okakuro Kakuzo, a prominent
Japanese Scholar for example, in his book “the Ideals of the East” had directly implied Asia as
one.

The APA envisages that Asia will be in a unity, closer than ever before with a view of integration
into an Asian Parliamentary Union. It is within that respect, the APA has consistently promote
a discourse on such issue. If I may recall, the last APA Troika, held in May 2014, in Islamabad,
also discussed issues of integration.

The quest for an Asian Parliament first and foremost requires a political approval of all Asian
States. It requests our Governments to make actions, coordinate efforts in bringing together the
political will of integration.

One thing for sure is that we need a greater coherence, interdependence between Asian nations
through greater campaign that Asia is one. We do also need to foster contact with our inter-
governmental forum counterpart such as: the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, ASEAN, SAARC,
to mention but a few, conducting campaign on Asian Unity, promoting greater cooperation
among Asian Countries, and others.

Selected Speeches of the Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia I 3