Participation of Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, PABSEC Secretary General, in the 15th Plenary Session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), Baku, 19-20 February 2025
On 19-20 February 2025, the 15th Plenary Session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) was held in Baku, dedicated to the topic “The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy in Strengthening Multilateral Cooperation in Asia”. The Session was attended by more than 280 delegates from 35 countries, speakers of parliaments of several countries, as well as representatives of international organizations. The Plenary Session also implied the meetings of the APA committees.
At the opening session, the participants were addressed Ms. Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who is also the PABSEC President, and Mr. Mohammad Reza Majidi, Secretary General of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly. It was noted that Azerbaijan is determined to further develop international parliamentary cooperation in Asia and fully realize the potential of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly.
During the Session, the chairmen, deputy chairmen, and members of parliamentary delegations of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly made speeches, emphasizing the role of the APA in addressing regional issues and accelerating regional integration. It was noted that the APA is an important platform for strengthening multilateral cooperation in the context of global challenges and geopolitical tensions. It was noted that the APA will continue to make efforts to achieve economic progress, to strengthen peace and security in Asian countries.
In his speech, Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, PABSEC Secretary General, spoke about the cooperation between the PABSEC and the APA and noted the importance of strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation, parliamentary diplomacy and mutual dialogue in promoting sustainable development and strengthening partnerships in the world, as well as achieving shared goals. The importance of strengthening mutual trust and solidarity between countries in the framework of regional and bilateral relations was also noted.
At the end of the session, the Baku Declaration was adopted. After the conclusion of the Session, Bahrain became the Chair in the APA until 2026.
Within the framework of the Session, Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, PABSEC Secretary General, met with Ms. Sahiba Gafarova, PABSEC President, Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and discussed the main areas of PABSEC activities during the Azerbaijani PABSEC Presidency and organizational issues of the upcoming 65th General Assembly in Baku in June 2025.
On the sidelines of the Session, Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, PABSEC Secretary General, met with Mr. Dmitry Kobitsky, Secretary General of the IPA CIS Council, and Mr. Osama Mahmoud Abdelfattah Mohamed, Advisor to the Secretary General of the PUIC, and discussed the issues of further cooperation with the PABSEC. The PUIC representative invited the PABSEC to the PUIC Conference to be held in Bali in May 2025.