PHOTO: Korean National Assembly. South Korean National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang (L, center) with Li Zhanshu (R, center), Chairman of the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress on May 7, 2019.
Speaker of the National Assembly of Korea Moon Hee-sang paid a 3-day official visit to China from May 6, 2019. Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party and minor opposition Bareunmirae Party accompanied the Speaker on the trip.
During this visit, Speaker Moon is scheduled to meet with Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China Wang Qishan, Politburo member Yang Jiechi among others to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation between the two countries, fully restore Korea-China relations, and prepare a foundation to facilitate exchange and substantial cooperation appropriate for a strategic cooperative partnership.
On May 6, Speaker Moon met with Politburo member Yang Jiechi and exchanged opinions on recent developments in the Korean Peninsula, and agreed to strengthen communication and cooperation to ensure the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In environmental issues such as fine dust pollution, Speaker Moon emphasized the transnational aspect of the problem and close cooperation needed to resolve the issue.
Speaker Moon met with Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on May 7. The two discussed issues of mutual concern, including the peace process of the Korean Peninsula, economic cooperation, and fine dust pollution. He said that “despite the difference in position between the two sides at the Hanoi Summit, they continue to express their determination to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation”, providing an optimistic outlook and emphasizing China’s constructive role in the future. Speaker Moon also stressed China’s role in supporting the 4th Inter-Korea Summit and 3rd U.S.-DPRK Summit.
On the last day, Speaker Moon met with Wang Qishan, Vice President of China. In the meeting, Speaker Moon expressed his appreciation for China’s role in relieving the tension in the Korean Peninsula and for transitioning into a dialogue-based approach, and invited Chinese President Xi to visit Korea. Vice President Wang responded that Korean President Moon’s 2017 visit to China provided direction for China-Korea relations, with cooperation underway in many areas.
PHOTO: Reuters. Panthongtae Sinawatra, son of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, greeting supporters of the Pheu Thai Party in February
The opposition Pheu Thai Party has won the most seats in Thailand's first election since a military coup in 2014, the country's Election Commission says. Backed by ousted former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, the party took 136 seats, while the ruling pro-military Palang Pracha Rath Party (PPRP) took 115.
However the 250-seat Senate is expected to back PPRP, giving them an advantage in their bid to stay in power.
A vote for the next prime minister is expected to happen within a few weeks. The result means that the military government will remain in charge, and its current military leader Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha of the PPRP is likely to keep his job.
There are 750 seats in parliament but Thailand's electorate only votes for the 500 lower house seats as the members of the 250 upper house seats are appointed by the military. Of the 500 seats, 350 are elected using a first-past-the-post system, and the remaining 150 MPs are allocated according to a proportional formula.
Under the election rules, the Senate votes together with the house to pick the next prime minister - this means the PPRP needs fewer small parties to support it in order to gain enough votes in the house and Senate combined to choose the next leader.
BY MSEAP Cyber Secretariat (mseap@assembly.go.kr)
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