Speakers’ Conference: Lawmakers, experts likely to explore avenues for dialogues

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Friday said that the parliamentary leadership along with the experts would successfully and effectively consider the common key challenges relating to terrorism and to explore new avenues for increased dialogue and connectivity for development.

He expressed these views in his message on the occasion of the three-day Speakers’ Conference to be held today (Saturday). Speaker Ayaz Sadiq hoped that the emergence of such forum can guide the golden ring in accordance with the aspired peace, dialogue and sustainable development by the people of the six nations.

He said it was matter of great sense of achievement and pride for him to finally see his idea of a regional parliamentary alliance of Afghanistan, China, Iran, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey taking a concrete shape after a persistent labour of three years, when he first proposed a parliamentary forum to find meaningful solutions to the problems of the region.

“I am most grateful to my counterparts from these countries, who accepted my suggestion and are gathering in Islamabad to hold a joint meeting of the speakers to address the challenges and inter-regional connectivity,” he said, adding that the idea was based on the realisation of importance of the linkages as the key starting point for the furtherance of the strategic and economic interests of all the countries concerned through joint research, sharing ideas and creating multilateral platforms of businessmen, academia and traders led by the representative parliamentary leadership.

Ayaz Sadiq said that peace, dialogue and interdependence were key precursors of a prospering society upon which rests the whole paradigm of sustainable development of our coming generations. He said that the vibrant nations of six countries were not only tied by geographical proximity but their perpetual interdependence is also based on age-old civilized heritage as well as geo-economic links of trade, tourism, and culture spreading over centuries.

He expressed his optimism that parliamentary leaderships along with the experts would successfully and effectively consider the common key challenges relating to terrorism and to explore new avenues for increased dialogue and connectivity for development.

He expressed that his counterparts were expected to exchange views on the entire spectrum of bilateral, regional and international issues in a warm, cordial and friendly manner by acknowledging the shared bonds; stressing that cooperation contributes to the strengthening of peace, prosperity, and stability; agreeing to further strengthen collaboration within the framework of the UN, the SCO, and other regional and international organisations.

He reiterated to resolve the safeguard territorial integrity and inviolability of the borders of their states. He reaffirmed that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group. The speaker expressed the willingness to help promote dialogue, trust, and confidence with a view to addressing the common challenge of terrorism in a comprehensive manner.