The delegation to the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP). From left to right: Ove Trellevik (Conservative Party), Helge André Njåstad (Progress Party), Elin Rodum Agdestein (Conservative Party), Torstein Tvedt Solberg (Labour Party), Åsunn Lyngedal (Labour Party) and Åslaug Sem-Jacobsen (Centre Party). Photo: Storting.
The Storting granted permanent observer status to AIPA
On Thursday 10th September, the Storting was granted the status of permanent observer to AIPA, the ASEAN member states’ inter-parliamentary assembly.
“We’ve worked hard for this,” said a delighted President of the Storting, Tone W. Trøen.
ASEAN comprises 10 Southeast Asian nations. Taken as a whole, they are an extremely important trading partner for Norway.
“As an observer, the Storting will be invited to AIPA’s general assemblies and to dialogue meetings with all the countries. This in turn means that we will be able to forge closer ties with a number of important countries for us in Asia, develop a better common understanding, and make important personal connections,” Ms Trøen said.
Also see: Norway aiming for an important observer role.