Baku, April 5, 2025 – The Europe Today: Speaker of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova, addressed the Coordination Meeting of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) on 5 April, held on the sidelines of the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Uzbekistan.
In her remarks, Speaker Gafarova noted that this marks the third APA Coordination Meeting chaired by Azerbaijan within the IPU framework. She emphasised the significance of such gatherings in enhancing cooperation and coordination on pressing international matters of mutual concern.
Reflecting on the 15th Plenary Session of the APA, which took place from 18 to 20 February 2025 in Baku under the theme “The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy in Strengthening Multilateral Cooperation in Asia”, Gafarova highlighted the event’s importance in fostering dialogue and mutual understanding. The session brought together representatives from 27 countries and seven international organisations, providing a vital platform to exchange views on regional and global issues.
The Speaker also outlined Azerbaijan’s priorities during its APA chairmanship, which include strengthening the Assembly’s institutional capacity, broadening its membership, and enhancing the efficiency of its existing structures. She described the outcomes of the 15th session as highly promising. Notably, the Consultative Council of the Sultanate of Oman was admitted as a full member, and the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus was granted observer status.
Furthermore, Speaker Gafarova announced a landmark agreement reached during the Baku session regarding the establishment of an APA budget, underscoring its significance for boosting the Assembly’s institutional development and operational capacity. She noted that revitalising the APA Bureau and convening its meetings at each gathering of the Standing Committees has allowed the organisation to respond more effectively to emerging challenges.
The Speaker praised the productive work of the APA Committees, which led to the adoption of 29 resolutions covering political, economic, cultural, social, environmental, and other issues. The collective views of the participants were captured in the Baku Declaration, reflecting their unified stance on the discussed matters.
Addressing the theme of parliamentary diplomacy, Speaker Gafarova noted that the 15th session featured in-depth discussions on its vital role in fostering multilateral cooperation in Asia. Participants unanimously agreed on the need for commitment to international norms and principles and stressed the importance of building an effective and inclusive multisectoral framework to confront contemporary global challenges.
Concluding her address, the Speaker expressed confidence that the APA Coordination Meeting held under the IPU’s auspices would serve to align parliamentary focus on shared priorities and mobilise collective efforts to achieve common goals. She reiterated the significance of the APA as a dynamic platform for dialogue, solidarity, and cooperation among Asian parliaments in an increasingly interconnected world.
