LOOK: Senate and House leaders open Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz’ Zubiri speaks during the APPF Executive Committee Meeting on November 23, 2023. (Photo from SENATE PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri and House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez officially began the 31st Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) on Thursday morning.

Parliamentarians from Canada, Australia, China, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia were welcomed by the lawmakers during the opening ceremony.

This year’s APPF being held at Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay city is attended by at least 237 parliamentarians from 18 countries in Asia-Pacific region.

APPF is a multilateral parliamentary forum between member-countries in Southeast Asia, Oceania (islands in the Pacific Ocean), Northeast Asia, and the Americas.

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri shakes hands with delegates during the APPF Executive Committee Meeting on November 23, 2023. (Photo from SENATE PRIB)

“We are happy to have everyone here visit our country and it’s nice to see friends and fellow parliamentarians,” Zubiri said in his opening remarks.

“It’s an honor to join you in an executive committee meeting before our inaugural ceremony this afternoon,” he told fellow parliamentarians.

For his part, Romualdez said this is the second time Philippines is hosting the annual international meeting.

The first one was in 1994.