NOURNEWS - Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that his country wants increased cooperation among Asian states to return the old continent to its real global position.
Qalibaf made the remarks, addressing a a virtual meeting of the Standing Committee on Social and Cultural Affairs of Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA).
He urged expansion of cooperation among Asian countries to enhance the Asian continent level in the international equations.
"Undoubtedly, the positive and constructive cooperation and interaction of the members of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) and the dialogue and agreement among the representatives at all levels will increase the achievements of APA as an important parliamentary institution, and as a result, would strengthen cooperation and move towards integration in the ancient continent of Asia," he said.
The Iranian speaker of parliament further hailed the cultural diversity in Asia while stressing the need for preserving the diversity by respecting the national cultural values and differences.
"Certainly, different Asian nations have invested a lot to preserve this national and collective identity, which the members of parliament, who act as the voice of the people, are obliged to preserve and strengthen," he pointed out.
Qalibaf further noted that the approach of the Iranian parliament is based on moderation and constructive interaction, and efforts to pay special attention to cooperation with the ancient Asian continent and to find practical solutions to develop economic cooperation.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that by expanding interactions between Asian countries, it is possible ... to achieve the new Asia and enhance Asia to its real level in the global equations."
The ancient Asia continent will have a brighter future ahead through greater cooperation between the parliaments of Asian countries, Qalibaf concluded.
In relevant remarks last month, Qalibaf had also called safeguarding multilateralism as his country’s top priority.
Qalibaf, addressing the opening of the second conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Economic Cooperation Organization (PAECO), said that Iran is strongly opposed to unilateralism and deems it as its priority to safeguard multilateralism.
The two-day event was attended by parliamentary heads from Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan Republic, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
NOURNEWS