CAPDI chairman Jusuf Kalla said on Monday that the second conference was designed to renew the commitment of members to maintain regional and global peace.

'€œThis conference invites all parties to prioritize maintaining peace, not war, by involving the government and all non-governmental parties,'€ said Kalla in his speech as quoted by Antara news agency.

CAPDI is a non-profit organization that plays an active role in international political affairs. Founded by seven political parties in Manila, the Philippines, on July 4, 2005, its establishment was reinforced with the Manila Declaration in January 2006 before it was later reaffirmed in Jakarta in January 2008. CAPDI has 60 members from 18 countries in Asia Pacific.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said at the conference that attempts to reconcile must reflect a concerted effort to bring peace, stability and sustainable development in the region.

Hun Sen, a former chairman of CAPDI, asked all members to keep up the fight against the numerous threats that disrupt national stability, such as border conflicts, religious conflicts, terrorism, the nuclear disarmament issue, global warming and climate change, natural disaster and human trafficking.

The conference, which was opened in Makassar on Sunday, is divided into two sessions, with topics of peace and reconciliation and climate change in Asia.

Hun Sen and former Philippine president Fidel Ramos, former Nepalese prime minister Madhav Kumar and former deputy Canadian prime minister Sheila Copps are just some of the prominent figures in attendance. (asw)

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