Baku: Bahrain has been elected to the presidency of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), marking a national and parliamentary achievement that underscores its leadership in regional and international parliamentary affairs. The announcement was made during the 15th General Assembly session of the APA, held in Azerbaijan, in the presence of Bahrain's parliamentary delegation, led by Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, Chairman of the Shura Council.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Al Saleh congratulated His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, attributing the achievement to His Majesty's support in strengthening Bahrain's global parliamentary presence. He also commended HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister for his commitment to advancing the performance of Bahrain's parliamentary institutions.
He noted that Bahrain's election was secured with unanimous support from APA member parliaments, reflecting the success of Bahraini parliamentary diplomacy in fostering cooperation, strengthening inter-parliamentary dialogue, and addressing shared regional and international concerns. Al Saleh highlighted the key role of Bahrain's parliamentary diplomacy in enhancing international cooperation, expanding partnerships, and contributing to discussions on legislative and political matters at regional and global forums.
He underscored Bahrain's commitment to furthering parliamentary dialogue and improving collaboration among Asian parliaments to advance shared interests. The Asian Parliamentary Assembly, established in 2006, consists of 44 permanent member parliaments, along with 14 parliamentary unions and 10 observer states. It evolved from the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP), founded in the late 1990s in Dhaka, Bangladesh.