The Speaker of the Saudi Shura Council discusses parliamentary cooperation in Türkiye
Active participation of the Kingdom in international parliamentary forums
In the context of strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and solidifying bilateral and international ties, His Excellency the Speaker of the Saudi Shura Council, Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Sheikh, received a number of Their Excellencies and Highnesses, Speakers of legislative councils and parliaments. These important meetings took place on the sidelines of the participation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's delegation in the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, hosted by the Republic of Turkey in Istanbul, reflecting the Kingdom's keenness to maintain an active presence in influential international forums.
Intensive meetings with leaders of Gulf and Arab parliamentary work
The Saudi Shura Council Speaker was engaged in significant diplomatic activity behind the scenes at the General Assembly, holding a series of strategic meetings with his counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. These meetings included receiving His Excellency Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates; His Excellency Ahmed bin Salman Al-Musallam, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Bahrain; His Excellency Hassan bin Abdullah Al-Ghanim, Speaker of the Shura Council of the State of Qatar; and His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Hilal Al-Maawali, Speaker of the Shura Council of the Sultanate of Oman.
On the broader Arab level, Dr. Abdullah Al-Sheikh met with His Excellency the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Counselor Hisham Badawi, and His Excellency the Speaker of the House of Advisors of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Mohamed Ould Rachid, in addition to the Speaker of the Arab Parliament, Mr. Mohamed Bin Ahmed Al-Yamahi, in a step aimed at unifying the Arab ranks and coordinating common positions.
Expanding the scope of international and Islamic cooperation
The meetings were not limited to the regional and Arab spheres, but extended to include strengthening relations with Islamic and friendly countries. His Excellency received Her Excellency Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and His Excellency El Hadj Malick Ndiaye, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Senegal, which underscores the comprehensiveness of the Saudi vision in building global parliamentary partnerships.
The importance of the event and the historical context of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
These meetings are of paramount importance given their timing and location. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), founded in 1889, is the foremost global organization that brings together national parliaments from around the world to promote peace, democracy, and sustainable development. The 152nd session comes at a time of global geopolitical and economic challenges that necessitate concerted parliamentary efforts and a unified vision and stance, particularly among Arab and Islamic countries, to address current crises.
Expected impact and discussion topics
During these intensive meetings, discussions focused on ways to support and strengthen bilateral parliamentary relations and exchange legislative expertise to serve the common interests of the peoples. The talks also centered on reviewing and discussing a number of vital topics on the agenda of the 152nd General Assembly and coordinating positions on issues of mutual concern.
This parliamentary movement clearly reflects the role of parliamentary diplomacy led by the Shura Council in conveying the voice of the Kingdom, explaining its firm positions on regional and international issues, as well as building bridges of communication and cooperation with various countries of the world, which positively impacts the support of regional and international security and stability.
