Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova has met with Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore Seah Kian Peng in the course of her current official visit to that country.

They were discussing the relations between our countries and parliaments. Seah Kian Peng remarked confidently that the current visit would contribute to the relations between our countries and parliaments, and emphasised the importance of the need to develop ties between our countries and their legislatures.

The thirtieth anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations coming up this year was mentioned, as was that the co-operation between Azerbaijan and Singapore has developed in a number of areas over the past years. There are many co-operation opportunities in the interests of our countries despite their geographical distance from each other.

Also, they talked about the fruitful co-operation between our countries in international organisations including the Non-Aligned Movement. Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova informed Sea Kian Peng of the workings of the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement, established at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, adding that the Network was poised to become an important inter-parliamentary co-operation platform for the two sides. The Speaker also mentioned the Milli Majlis having been granted an observer status in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in 2022; that is another co-operation opportunity to hand.

This is the first time that Speaker of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan visits Singapore, according to Sahiba Gafarova who went further to underscore the importance of trips and exchange of experience between our countries.

Sahiba Gafarova said then that inter-parliamentary interaction was one of the substantial factors of favourable influence upon the bilateral and multilateral relations. She emphasised the need to continue broadening this interaction to ensure a continued progress of our co-operation as well as to step up mutual support in inter-parliamentary organisations.

Issues related to economic, trading and transport co-operation between our countries were broached as well. Also, they spoke of the importance of furthering the ties in education, sciences, culture, youth affairs and sports for such co-operation promotes the ties between our countries and deepens human contacts.

The Speaker of the Milli Majlis proceeded to tell Sea Kian Peng about the 29^th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Climate Change (COP29). The fact that our country will host such a tremendous important international event speaks of the recognition of Azerbaijan's efforts in the fight against climate change, not only at the national, but also at the regional and global levels. The Speaker then talked of the parliamentary meeting planned to be held within the session under the joint organisation of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and Milli Majlis and invited her colleague to take part in this important event.

There was also an exchange of views upon other matters of shared interest and concern.

Once the conversation was over, Sahiba Gafarova made an entry in the commemorative book and then the Milli Majlis delegation were shown around the Parliament of Singapore.

The Press and Public Relations Department

The Milli Majlis