Lessons Learned on Parliamentary Members' Performance of Duties Regarding Public Participation

24/10/2025 16:09

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ຂປລ The Conference on Open Parliament and Public Participation for Inclusive and Responsive Governance was held on October 22–23, 2025, in Vientiane Capital. The event was co-chaired by Mr. Sanya Praseuth, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and President of the Assembly of Francophone Parliamentarians (APF); Mr. Kaloyan Kolev, representative from the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF); and Mr. Yi Chanprasnar, representative from the Parliamentary Centre Asia (PCAsia).

The conference was attended by representatives from Lao PDR, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and relevant international organizations, along with secretariat staff. The meeting served as a platform for exchanging knowledge, experiences, and best practices among parliamentarians from the region.

The main objectives of the conference were to consult and discuss lessons learned from the performance of parliamentary duties related to public participation, to share practical experiences from experts, and to emphasize the importance of strengthening cooperation and fulfilling the obligations of APF member countries. The conference also aimed to raise awareness of regional and international developments that encourage openness and participatory governance.

During the opening session, Mr. Sanya Praseuth underlined that parliaments share a collective mission to represent the people and to strengthen the foundation of democracy through openness, participation, and timely responsiveness. He stressed that maintaining trust between elected representatives and citizens is a crucial aspect of good governance.

Mr. Sanya further highlighted that genuine public participation, equal access to information, and participatory decision-making are not only democratic values but also essential conditions for ensuring peace, stability, and sustainable development. He noted that the conference provided an important opportunity for participants to exchange experiences and learn together in promoting open parliamentary practices.

He added that the Lao National Assembly has made significant progress in expanding communication channels through television, radio, and digital platforms, allowing the public to follow parliamentary debates and access legal information more easily.

The lessons learned from the conference emphasized several key principles. Parliaments must continue to strengthen their representative role and uphold transparency and openness as the foundation of democratic legitimacy. Building trust between elected officials and the people remains central to effective governance. Participants also agreed that multi-channel communication is vital for enhancing citizen engagement and that access to information should be expanded to make parliamentary work more visible to the public.

The conference concluded that regional cooperation among parliaments plays an important role in sharing good practices and experiences. Participants reaffirmed that participatory and inclusive governance is directly linked to peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region.

KPL

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