Baku, February 19, 2025: Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to fostering regional peace, economic connectivity, and sustainable development through active participation in multilateral platforms, including the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
Speaking at the APA plenary session in Baku, Azerbaijan, Gilani emphasized that peace, democracy, human rights, and sustainable development are shared ideals that bind Asian nations together. He highlighted the APA’s role as a vital platform for advancing these common goals and strengthening Asia’s voice on the global stage.
Gilani stressed that as the global landscape evolves, Asia remains at the heart of geo-economic transformation, security concerns, and geopolitical realignments. He underscored the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in bridging diverse nations and political systems to address pressing regional challenges.
“Parliamentary diplomacy enables us to tackle key issues such as economic integration, trade facilitation, climate change, terrorism, and cybercrime,” he stated.
He further advocated for enhanced cultural exchanges, educational collaborations, and interfaith dialogues to promote regional harmony and solidarity.
Gilani reiterated the strategic significance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in strengthening regional infrastructure and economic connectivity. He also highlighted Pakistan’s focus on counterterrorism and intelligence-sharing to enhance regional security.
Calling for a more structured and impactful parliamentary engagement within APA, Gilani emphasized the need to develop legal frameworks and policy alignment to address regional challenges and promote inclusive governance by ensuring greater participation of women and young legislators in diplomatic forums.
Gilani endorsed Oman’s request for full membership in the APA and supported Belarus’s request for observer status, underscoring the importance of inclusive parliamentary engagement.
He expressed confidence that the 15th APA Plenary Session would lead to mutually agreeable solutions on key issues and commended Azerbaijan’s leadership during its APA presidency. He also extended gratitude to the host nation for its exceptional hospitality and well-organized event.
