Baku: As part of her visit to South Africa, Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis, met with Fateh Boutbig, President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP). The discussions focused on enhancing friendly relations between Azerbaijan and African countries, the potential growth of inter-parliamentary cooperation, and issues of mutual interest.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the meeting underscored the critical role of parliaments in advancing the Pan-African AU Agenda 2063. PAP President Fatih Boutbig emphasized Azerbaijan's status as a reliable partner for African countries, highlighting that the nations share common values and maintain relationships grounded in mutual respect. He noted that parliamentary diplomacy is crucial for strengthening ties between peoples and promoting shared interests.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova expressed Azerbaijan's commitment to developing relations with African countries, stressing the importance of expanding inter-parliamentary relations, strengthening political dialogue, increasing mutual trust, and exploring new areas of cooperation. She pointed out that further expansion of inter-parliamentary relations would benefit both parties and highlighted opportunities for enhancing institutional cooperation with the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network.

The meeting also involved discussions on the prospects for developing cooperation between Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis and the Pan-African Parliament, as well as collaboration between the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network and the Pan-African Parliament. The talks covered interactions within international parliamentary organizations and other common interests.