Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Milli Majlis, who is on an official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain, addressed the 16th plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA).
According to Modern.az, the Speaker stated in her speech that at a time when the 20th anniversary of APA's establishment is being celebrated this year, the Assembly has already become an important multilateral institution for constructive dialogue and solidarity.
Speaker Sahiba Gafarova, providing information on the work done in the last two years, noted that the composition of the organization expanded during Azerbaijan's chairmanship.
Sahiba Gafarova brought to attention that during Azerbaijan's chairmanship, special attention was paid to issues of institutional development, that Bureau meetings resumed and were held within the framework of Permanent Committee meetings:
"During Azerbaijan's chairmanship, special attention was also paid to increasing APA's role in parliamentary diplomacy and its prestige on the international stage".
She noted that the development of cooperation between APA and other inter-parliamentary organizations is considered an effective means of achieving this goal.
The Speaker of the Parliament noted that against the backdrop of existing challenges and conflicts in the world, the promotion of intercultural and inter-civilizational dialogue is no longer an option, but a necessity:
"Because achieving global peace and prosperity primarily depends on building trust and mutual understanding among peoples. In this sense, the Asian region possesses great potential with its rich heritage. The diversity of the region should not be perceived as a dividing line between our countries, but as a value that brings us closer and enriches our dialogue".
Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Parliament, emphasizing the importance of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum to be held in Baku this year, stated that sustainable urban development is closely linked to the global development agenda. She invited all APA member countries to actively participate in this Forum.
The chairmanship of APA has been officially handed over to the Council of Representatives of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
