Resolution on Improving Understanding of Cultural Diversity in the Asia-Pacific

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

Resolution on Improving Understanding of Cultural Diversity in the Asia-Pacific

APPF29/RES/11

Draft Resolution Sponsored by: Republic of Korea 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 resolutions on cultural diversity in the Asia-Pacific region adopted at previous APPF Annual Meetings, including the resolution on Promoting regional cultural diversity and tourism (APPF28/RES/09) adopted in Canberra, Australia, in 2020 and the Resolution on Enhancing Parliamentary Cooperation in Promoting Cultural Diversity and Tourism in Asia-Pacific (APPF27/RES/05) adopted in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in 2019,

Recalling the Guidelines on the Implementation of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression in the Digital Environment approved at the 6th Ordinary Session of the Conference of Parties to the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of Diversity of Cultural Expressions in June 2017 considering the rapid change in the digital environment,

Emphasizing the Asia-Pacific region is the largest region in terms of area and population with a rich diversity of cultures, arts, traditions, languages, beliefs, religions, and ethnic groups, therefore, a better understanding of cultural diversity as well as mutual understanding and trust among Asia-Pacific countries are essential to maintaining peace, friendship, stability and cooperation in the region,

Noting concerns that limited exchange between countries due to border lockdowns because of COVID-19 and the increasing prioritization of national interests and proliferation of nationalism and religious extremism may impair values of cultural diversity,

Recognizing the need for preserving and promoting the identity and uniqueness of every people as an essential element of free existence and development of various cultures within the Asia-Pacific region,

Acknowledging the importance of promoting trust and resolving disputes inside and between societies with different cultures, ethnicities, and religions as a critical condition for achieving progress, prosperity and a better quality of life, and the role of parliamentary diplomacy in resolving related conflicts,

Recognizing cultural diversity is a shared legacy for all humanity and protecting the creative activities of citizens from different cultural backgrounds requires not only efforts by individual countries but also the collaboration of the international community as a whole,

Supporting stronger communication and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region so that each country can develop the capacity to promote cultural diversity,

RESOLVE TO:

Affirm the importance of parliamentary actions for the protection of cultural diversity unique to the Asia-Pacific for the effective integration and promotion of values of this region;
Urge APPF Member Parliaments to undertake financial projects to proliferate the recognition in values of cultural diversity to restore the value of cultural diversity undermined by COVID-19 and national legislative measures aiming to protect the identity and uniqueness of cultures, ethnicities, languages, and religions and promote the right to live together; Additionally, we recognize the languages and cultures of indigenous peoples, and promote the renewal of just relationships between the non-indigenous and indigenous peoples;
Recommend APPF Member Countries to intensify intermediary processes at national and regional levels on disputes between cultures, ethnicities, and religions, and facilitate dialogue between cultures, ethnicities, and religions;
Recommend APPF Member Countries to cooperate with international organizations, including UNESCO, and work towards the protection and promotion of cultural diversity in the Asia-Pacific;
Recommend APPF Member Parliaments bolster financial and institutional support to the creative and tourism industries to expand cultural diversity by promoting the right of people in the Asia-Pacific to enjoy culture;
Encourage APPF Member Countries to ease, on a phase-by-phase basis, restrictive measures to promote exchange in culture, arts and tourism that has been suspended since the outbreak of COVID-19, recognizing that exchange in culture, arts and tourism constitute a basis for a wider recognition of cultural diversity;
Encourage APPF Member Parliaments to support the UN and IPU initiative for a world conference on interreligious and interethnic dialogue, which would bring together heads of states, parliamentarians, and representatives of world religions, as entrenched in the UN General Assembly resolution on Interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (RES72/278) adopted in 2018; and
Encourage APPF Member Countries to promote projects to expand exchange and relations between countries in the Asia-Pacific, staff training programs, cultural heritage digital archives and workshops on preparation and hosting of cultural events.