{The IST News): Dr Yash Chawla from Sydney is now in India, where he facilitated the signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) between the Association of Asia-Pacific Union (AAPU) and the Press Club of
India.
Dr Chawla is the Chairman of the Pacific Region of the AAPU.
In furtherance of AAPU’s activities, he and Mr. JS Saluja, Chairman of AAPU, met the Trade officials
of the Australian High Commission in New Delhi to plan a conference in New Delhi in April 2025 and
in Sydney in August 2025. Dr Chawla is also facilitating an AAPU Conference in Dubai and is deeply
involved in Climate Change disaster recovery. Dr Chawla also facilitates an MoU with Vasundhara
Emergency Management Foundation for knowledge sharing on Climate Disasters.
The Asia Pacific (APAC) is a Rising Economic Powerhouse that Faces Environmental and Development
Challenges
The press release of the MoU with Press Club of India states that the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has
emerged as the fastest-growing economic powerhouse, steadily gaining global importance following
the economic peak of Europe. With 60% of the world’s population and 70% of the most densely
populated cities, APAC represents a hub of cultural diversity, where indigenous cultures coexist
alongside rapid modernisation. Since the turn of the century, the region has successfully lifted over
one billion people from extreme poverty.
However, tremendous economic expansion and population growth have placed significant stress on
the environment, leading to widespread environmental degradation and the impacts of climate
change. These developments have heightened interdependence among APAC countries regarding
natural resources, trade, finance, security, better inter-communication, and cultural connections.
AAPU and PCI Unite for Sustainable Development, Climate Action, Cultural Connect and
Communication
Recognising these challenges, the Association of Asia Pacific Union (AAPU) and the Press Club of
India (PCI) have come together to address critical issues of sustainable development, threats to
peace and prosperity, and the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters, better
intercommunication and cultural connect in the APAC region.
In a landmark step, AAPU and PCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in New Delhi to
foster collaboration with civil societies across the region. This partnership promotes better
communication, mutual learning, and idea exchange through hybrid seminars, experts’ talks and
conferences.
Planned Activities and Global Outreach
The collaboration will kick off with seminars in India, Dubai, and Sydney, setting the stage for a larger
movement that will expand to other cities as the initiative grows. These events will involve diverse
stakeholders from civil societies, encouraging constructive dialogue and cooperative action to
address shared regional challenges.
By uniting civil society voices, AAPU and PCI aspire to elevate APAC’s most pressing issues to higher
platforms, fostering sustainable solutions for a resilient future.
An MoU was signed between AAPU and PCI by Dr BR Jain Sectary of AAPU and Shri Neeraj Mathur –
Secretary General of PCI at PCI , New Delhi, in the presence of the important functionaries Shri from
PCI. AAPU Wg Cdr Praful Baxi, Mr JS Saluja President, Dr KK Sharma, Vice President, Dr YP Chawla
Chairman Pacific Region, Mr IC Jain Secretary Finance and Mr Neeraj Thakur Secretary General along
with Mr Gautam Lahiri , the President of the Press Club of India
