Sahiba Gafarova, Azerbaijan’s Speaker of Milli Majlis, met on Tuesday with Puan Maharani, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, who is on a working visit to the country to participate in the 15th plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA).

During the meeting, the sides described the APA as an important parliamentary platform uniting the legislatures of Asia, noting that a number of key issues would be discussed during the 15th plenary session in Baku.

The sides stressed the significance of such events in fostering dialogue on bilateral relations and expanding these ties.

Recalling her previous meetings with Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova underscored that such meetings and reciprocal visits contribute to the development of bilateral relations.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova hailed the productive cooperation and mutual support between the two countries within major international organizations such as the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non-Aligned Movement. Gafarova said that Indonesia is represented in the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement, which had been established on the initiative of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and actively participates in its events.

The Speakers also discussed the tasks facing the Parliamentary Network under Azerbaijan’s chairmanship and the steps being taken towards the organisation’s institutional development.

The sides underlined that the inter-parliamentary cooperation also contributed significantly to the development of relations between the two countries.

Speaker of the House of Representatives of Indonesia Puan Maharani expressed her confidence that the plenary session would be a success. Noting that ensuring peace and security is of utmost importance amid existing global crises, Puan Maharani underscored the commitment of Azerbaijan and Indonesia to the values of peace.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova provided an insight into the current situation in the region and the large-scale restoration and reconstruction efforts undertaken in Karabakh and East Zangazur following the liberation of the territories.

The sides also exchanged views on gender equality issues, enhancing women’s representation in governance, as well as other matters of shared interest.