Resolution on International Cooperation for Greater Economic Resilience and Inclusive Growth After the COVID-19 Crisis

29th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum
13-15 December 2021

Resolution on International Cooperation for Greater Economic Resilience and Inclusive Growth After the COVID-19 Crisis

APPF29/RES/06

Draft Resolution Sponsored by: Republic of Korea, Indonesia and Russian Federation

We, the parliamentarians of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), participating in the 29th Annual Meeting of the APPF held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, under the theme The Role of Parliaments in Strengthening Resilience in the Post-Covid-19 Era:

Reaffirming our commitment to implementing prior APPF resolutions aiming to support vulnerable groups and promote inclusive growth in the Asia-Pacific region including the Resolution on Building Strong Institutions to Promote Trade and Investment for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth (APPF27/RES/08) adopted in 2019 in Siem-Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia and Resolution on the Role of the APPF in Promoting the Partnership for Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth in the Asia-Pacific (APPF26/RES/06) adopted in 2018 in Hanoi, Vietnam,

Recalling the Resolution E/RES/2017/22 adopted by the UN Economic and Social Council on 6 July 2017 aimed at achieving inclusive and sustainable economic development,

Noting the G20 Leaders’ Statement of the Extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit in 2020 which determined to safeguard people’s jobs and incomes and provide help to all countries in need of assistance,

Supporting the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 for an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific Community by 2040,

Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions it provoked have caused substantial losses to the Asia-Pacific economies and concerns are raised over deepening polarization within and between countries during the COVID-19 crisis, rising demand and supply chain disruption, sluggish investment activities, ballooning debts, and contraction of trade and tourism,

Mindful that mitigating inequalities is essential to promoting economic development and prosperity as excessive income inequalities could disrupt economic growth,

Agreeing that social impact from the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic should be minimized and proper protection should be provided for workers, people in vulnerable situations, migrants, Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs),

Recognizing that ensuring full opportunities for economic activities to all social groups especially women, youth, people with disability, people in poverty, migrants as well as MSMEs is a great driver of inclusive growth,

Stressing that vigilant attention should be paid to increase in unemployment, SME bankruptcies, and deepening polarization, which can possibly emerge at the time of crisis, and that recovery from the crisis should take the path towards inclusive growth,

Emphasizing on the need to push forward green economic policies and develop an innovative economy based on the achievements of the digital sphere to ensure more sustainable and faster economic recovery,

Affirming the need for a strengthened regional cooperation to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, contribute to job creation in the Asia-Pacific and achieve sustainable economic growth,

RESOLVE TO:

Call on APPF Member Countries to make efforts to ensure job-creating growth in implementing post-COVID economic recovery plans;
Recommend APPF Member Countries to take measures to increase investment in people and restore supply chains to support sustainable and inclusive economic recovery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic;
Recommend APPF Member Countries to review and improve their social safety net for the people in vulnerable situations in the society to ensure preparedness for future crises after the COVID-19 pandemic;
Encourage APPF Member Countries to seek policies to provide equal opportunities for quality education through strengthening support for early education for children from socially and economically vulnerable families and improving vocational training system for non-college bound youths;
Encourage APPF Member Countries to adopt policies to provide vulnerable groups including the youth, elderly, women, and migrants with necessary financial and network support and skills in starting and running businesses;
Encourage APPF Member Countries to reduce barriers that undermine the establishment and growth of SMEs such as complicated regulations and bureaucracy while improving SMEs’ access to finance, technology and innovation network that are essential for them to excel in the global economy in recognition that SMEs are playing a pivotal role in promoting inclusive growth by providing innovative driving forces and employing a wide spectrum of workers including low skilled ones in countries faced with sluggish growth and widening inequalities;
Urge APPF Member Countries to commit to intensified international cooperation through regionalism and multilateralism based on inclusivity, mutual benefit and respect in order to overcome the pandemic and its consequences to our economies; and
Urge APPF Member Countries to enhance multi-stakeholder partnerships at all levels including APPF meetings to continue discussions on innovative pathways to achieving sustainable growth in the fields of economic activities, environmental conservation, creation of decent job opportunities, and promotion of inclusive development models.