15th APA meeting in Baku: Peace, democracy, HR shared ideals: Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that peace, democracy, human rights and sustainable development are shared ideals for which the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) offers an opportunity to pursue these ideals jointly, transforming APA into a true institutional voice of Asia.

Leading a parliamentary delegation of senators and MNAs, the Senate chairman addressed the plenary session of APA being held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Addressing the participants from different Asian regions, the Senate chairman said that global landscape continues to evolve and Asia remains at the center of geo-economic transformation, security concerns, and geopolitical realignments.

Gilani said that parliamentary diplomacy serves as a bridge that connects diverse nations and political systems in pursuit of common interests. “It enables us to address pressing regional issues and challenges, including economic integration, trade facilitation, climate change, terrorism and cybercrime,” he remarked.

He observed that enhanced cultural exchanges, educational collaborations, and interfaith dialogues can strengthen understanding, solidarity and regional harmony. “As a strategic link between South, Central, and West Asia, Pakistan is committed to fostering regional peace, economic connectivity, and sustainable development through active engagement at regional multilateral forums like the APA, SCO and ECO,” Senate chairman added.

He pointed out that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) remains central to strengthening regional infrastructure and economic integration. He also noted that counterterrorism, intelligence-sharing, and regional peace initiatives are key priorities.

“Pakistan leads regional sustainability efforts through afforestation programs, disaster resilience strategies, and transnational energy projects,” he maintained. He said that parliamentary cooperation is essential in addressing climate change, water security, and clean energy transitions. He also advocated for robust cyber security frameworks to protect regional economies and societies.

He emphasized that APA provides us with an invaluable opportunity to establish legal frameworks, build consensus on regional policies, and undertake constructive dialogue that transcend political differences.

Gilani called for maximizing the impact of parliamentary engagement and developing structured mechanisms within APA to enhance legislative collaboration and policy alignment, bridge gaps and create consensus on pressing regional issues.

“A stronger Asia requires inclusive governance. We must actively promote the participation of women and young legislators in diplomatic forums, ensuring diverse perspectives in decision making”, he said. He also extended complete support to the Sultanate of Oman request for full membership in APA and also endorsed Belarus’s request for observer status to foster inclusive parliamentary engagement,” he said.

He sounded hopeful that this 15th APA Plenary meeting will help synthesize mutually agreeable and acceptable solutions to all issues placed on its agenda. He acknowledged and commended Azerbaijan for remarkable stewardship of APA during its Presidency and extended gratitude to hosts on the exceptional hospitality and excellent arrangements in organizing important gathering.