The opening ceremony of the 8th International Co-operative Alliance Asia-Pacific (ICA-AP) Regional Assembly. National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong delivers a welcoming speech at the opening ceremony. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (right) receives ICA's leaders headed by ICA President Ivano Barberini. ICA-AP conferences focus on discussing the issue of alliance among co-operatives in the period of global economic crisis. Delegates attend the 5th Asia-Pacific Co-operative Forum entitled “The Advantages of Co-operatives in the Global Economic Crisis”. The meeting of the 8th International Co-operative Alliance Asia-Pacific (ICA-AP) Regional Assembly was held between December 1 - 6, 2008 in Hanoi, attracting the participation of 23 ICA-AP members and 18 countries from other continents. Via forums and workshops, the assembly focused on strengthening the advantages of co-operatives in the current global economic crisis. Addressing the opening ceremony, Li Chung Sheng, Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Region Co-operative Alliance stressed that the world was undergoing an economic crisis which had impacted all countries as well as co-operatives. Therefore, in this period the focus is on how 530 million members via 59 co-operative organizations in 22 countries in the region can benefit. Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed the active role of co-operatives in the cause of building and developing Vietnam . Over the past 60 years of development, nearly 18,000 co-operatives, co-operative alliances and over 320,000 co-operative groups in Vietnam have become a large economic sector that attracts 12.5 million co-operative members, co-operative households and labourers. It has had a positive influence in production and life with a large part of the population, particularly in the rural area and in the field of agriculture. The programme of the 8th ICA-AP Regional Assembly included 18 sessions, forums and seminars that focused on analysing the situation and coming up with a strategy to develop fishery co-operatives, school co-operatives, consumer co-operatives, credit co-operatives, agriculture co-operatives and the work of young people and women in co-operatives; and the work of training and developing human resources for co-operatives in each country and in the region. The delegates agreed that in the coming time it should further promote the role of co-operatives in the development of the regional economy, providing sustainable jobs for labourers plus supporting and promoting the rural community. Le Tien Quan, Chairman of Vietnam Co-operative Alliance affirmed: “It is the most important event of the regional co-operative movement that provides an opportunity for member countries to exchange experiences, promote and establish co-operation relations on economics, trade and technical support among co-operative organisations”. Delegates visit the stall exhibiting paintings carved on bronze of Hanoi Co-operative Alliance. The stall displaying wooden artworks of Au Lac Co-operative in Quang Nam draws the attention of a large number of visitors. One of the stalls of foreign businesses at the fair. International delegates visit Anh Duong Pottery Co-operative in Dong Trieu, Quang Ninh Province. Before the meeting, the 5th Co-operative Asia-Pacific Forum, the Meeting of International Co-operative Fisheries Organisation (ICFO), the ICA Regional Co-operative Youth Seminar, the Conference of the ICA-AP Regional Women’s Committees and many other conferences and forums were held with the aim of helping member co-operatives have a chance to exchange specialized experiences and establish relations for co-operation and development. On the occasion of this event, Vietnam Co-operative Alliance organized an international trade fair for co-operatives and small-medium enterprises (SMECOOP8) that took place simultaneously with the programmes of the ICA-AP Region Assembly. At the fair, there were negotiations and bilateral and multilateral exchanges among co-operatives and co-operative organisations on investment, co-operation and joint-ventures. The Asia-Pacific region is seen as the future trade hub of the world, promising great potential for co-operatives to express their strength via taking full advantage of the alliance in trade activities. Therefore, the 8th Meeting of ICA-AP Regional Assembly entitled “Promoting the Advantages of Co-operatives in the Global Economic Crisis” is of great significance, making a substantial contribution to stabilizing and developing the economy in each country and in the region as well. The ICA-AP is one of the eight regional members of the International Co-operative Alliance. The ICA is an independent, non-governmental organization which unites, represents and serves co-operatives worldwide. It was established in 1895 with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland . At present, ICA has 222 member organizations in over 100 countries throughout the world, operating in all sectors, including agriculture-forestry-fishery, industry, securities, banking, insurance, housing, etc. By Thong Thien - VNA