9 December 2015
Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei HENG SAMRIN, President of Cambodian National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, become the president of the  APA On 9 December morning. The handover ceremony of the chairmanship of the APA was held during the 8th APA Plenary Session at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel and Residence. 

The president has accepted the presidency of the APA from H.E. Mr. Mianraza RABBANI, President of Senate of Republic of Pakistan, who has chaired the APA for the last two years. Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei HENG SARIN will assume the chairmanship of this regional legislative body for two-year mandate from 2015 to 2016.

In the said handover ceremony and the receipt of the gavel, which symbolizes the transfer of the APA precidency, H.E. Mr. Mianraza RABBANI said he congratulated and supported Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei HENG SAMRIN for taking over this role. He believed the president will successfully contribute to the work of the APA, and continue to enhance the importance of the APA role in seeking peace for peoples in Asia.

He further emphasized that he, personally, as well as other APA memebers will abide by the leadership and decison of Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei HENG SAMRIN from now on.

After obtaining the gavel, Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei HENG SAOMRIN said durig the session that “in the name of the Cambodian nation, I have the great honor and pelasure to assume the role as the President of the 8th and 9th APA Plenary Session respectively for two-year term from year 2016 to 2017. Once again, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all participants attending the assembly.

He went on to say that “I am satisfied with the acceptance of this paramount duty and firmly hope for the best in good cooperation with all APA members so as to speed up the functioning of APA more effectively, chiefly the close integration of the body into regional executive branches.

The President of APA notified that it was the great honor of the parliament, the government and the people of Cambodia to receive the APA gavel, which symbolizes all Asian nations. In the meantime, the support from member countries is a key factor to the success of APA in compatible with its aspiration. “I believe with closer cooperation from honorable delegates, this plenary session will bring about solidarity, fraternity within a colossal APA family, which has been considered a priceless asset for the harmonization of our Asian nations” he underlined.

It is noted that the Charter and the Internal Regulations of APA stipulated that the president of APA shall be elected amongs the presidents of the parliaments of Asian nations with two-year mandate through majority vote of all APA delegations during the first day of the APA plenary.

Article and photos by Department of Information