In his address to Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) Executive Council in Geneva, Pakistan Senate Chairman and APA President Syed Nayyer Bokhari has called a strong and mutually-beneficial regional integration as a pre-requisite to the establishment of a fully representative and vibrant Asian parliament.
The gathering was attended by representatives from Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cyprus, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordon, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Russia, Sri Lanka and Syria. The EC meeting was arranged on the sidelines of 131st IPU, Geneva.
“However, to make it all possible, first we must muster up a strong political will across the region at the governmental, political and parliamentary level to serve as a firm bed-rock to base our future initiatives,” Bokhari said.
He also appreciated the APA on the successful holding of the 1stTroika-plus meeting earlier this year and asked for suggestions while reviewing the progress made by APA.
The APA president called the EC meeting a continuation of APA’s joint endeavour to tap the enormous potential of Asian continent for the betterment of its people. “This can be achieved by forging strong and enduring inter and intra-regional partnerships”, Bokhari said.
He proposed to the assembly in his address that trade, investment, economy and energy are the key areas to enhance cooperation in the region but also expressed that it is not possible without peace and stability. “It is for this cardinal reason that Pakistan believes in the promotion of peace and security in the region,” he said.
In this context, Senate chairman told the assembly about the progress of operation Zarb-e-Azb and stated Pakistan’s commitment to bringing peace in the region.
The participants of APA appreciated the commitment of APA President Syed Nayyer Bokhari and Senate of Pakistan in making APA a fruitful forum for increasing cooperation among the Asian Parliaments to bring prosperity to the people of the continent.
