Bahrain: Azerbaijan officially handed over the Chairmanship of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) to Bahrain during the 16th APA Plenary Session held in Bahrain on January 26. Addressing the event, Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis, recalled that Azerbaijan had assumed the Chairmanship during the 14th APA Plenary Session in Baku in February 2024.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, during Azerbaijan's APA Chairmanship, the country contributed to deepening cooperation and dialogue within the Assembly. This was seen as an indicator of the importance Azerbaijan attaches to the APA as a key inter-parliamentary platform. The Speaker highlighted that the organization expanded its membership during Azerbaijan's tenure as Chair.

Sahiba Gafarova emphasized the necessity of advancing intercultural and inter-civilizational dialogue amid global challenges and conflicts, underscoring the heritage and potential of the Asian region. She further noted that Azerbaijan will host another prestigious event this May - the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13). Gafarova mentioned that sustainable urban development remains high on the global agenda and invited all APA member states to actively participate in the upcoming Forum.