The rapid development of the Asia-Pacific region not only plays an important role in safeguarding regional peace and stability but also enhances world stability and prosperity, Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo said in New York Wednesday.

"The Asia-Pacific region enjoys stability as a whole, and broad and multiple forms of regional cooperation has produced marked results," said Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, at a breakfast with parliament leaders from about a dozen Asia-Pacific countries.

The speakers are here to attend the Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments. The three-day event, due to start Wednesday afternoon, is being convened as a follow-up to the first gathering of presiding officers that was organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in August-September 2000 on the occasion of the United Nations Millennium Assembly.

Wu noted that the IPU Asia-Pacific Group, one of several geopolitical groups under the IPU, represents an important force advancing peace, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region.

He urged member countries of the IPU Asia-Pacific Group to continuously raise the level of exchanges among their parliaments and make full use of the upcoming Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments to strengthen coordination, broaden common ground and jointly work for the success of the gathering.

China, as a member of the extended Asia-Pacific family, a participant in and a builder of Asia-Pacific peace, cooperation and development, stands ready to join hands with all parliaments in the region in advancing understanding, friendship, trust and cooperation among the peoples in the region so as to usher in an even better future for the Asia-Pacific, Wu said.

Source: Xinhua