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Russian delegation to attend APPF 20th meeting in Tokyo

The APPF is a forum of national parliamentarians that was established in January 1993

TOKYO, January 9 (Itar-Tass) — The 20th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum opens in Tokyo on Monday.

The Russian delegation will be led by Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko.

During the jubilee session delegates from 30 countries will discuss regional cooperation, nuclear security, the further advancement of peace and security, the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

On the first day of the forum within the framework of the discussion on prospects of the nuclear power industry the deputy speaker of the upper house of Russian parliament, Ilyas Umakhanov, will make a report.

This issue remains high on the agenda in the region after the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Delegates will also debate on climate change, the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, the development of cultural, educational and humanitarian contacts and cooperation in eliminating effects of natural calamities.

On January 12, when the Tokyo forum concludes, Valentina Matviyenko is expected to speak on behalf of Russia that will host the next meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum and will preside over the organization in 2013.

The APPF is a forum of national parliamentarians that was established in January 1993. It seeks to expand regional cooperation, support liberalization of international trade and investments, and promote cooperation for the further advancement of peace and security.

The forum brings together parliamentarians from Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.