Baku: Azerbaijani Parliamentary Speaker Sahiba Gafarova engaged with ambassadors from various African and global regions during her official visit to Ethiopia. The meeting, held in Addis Ababa, was part of her agenda on July 30.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Speaker Gafarova emphasized the necessity of strengthening multilateralism to align with the evolving global landscape. She highlighted the pivotal role of parliaments as catalysts in this transformation, stating that they are essential in translating citizens' expectations into effective public policies, thereby enhancing transparency, inclusiveness, and public trust.

Gafarova further elaborated on Africa's significance in the shifting global dynamics, underscoring the importance of parliamentary diplomacy. She also discussed the role of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the largest international parliamentary organization, its future prospects, and the African Agenda - 2063.

The Speaker noted that the IPU serves as a critical multilateral political platform, uniting global parliaments, and fostering dialogue, democracy, and inter-parliamentary cooperation. The meeting allowed for an exchange of views on Azerbaijan's and African countries' participation in international parliamentary organizations, Africa's development trajectory, Azerbaijan's contributions to the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network, and the outcomes of COP29 held in Baku, among other topics.