Beijing: Delegation of the House of Representatives Takes Part in the 2024 Interregional Seminar on the Achievement of SDGs for Parliaments of Developing Countries
A delegation of the House of Representatives is taking part in the 2024 Interregional Seminar on the Achievement of the SDGs for Parliaments of Developing Countries, organized in cooperation between the National People’s Congress of China and the Inter-Parliamentary Union on August 19-23, 2024, in Beijing. The delegation comprises Rep. Lahcen Elamoud (Istiqlali Group of Unity and Egalitarianism, Head of the delegation) and Rep. Abdelkader Taher (Socialist Group - Ittihadi Opposition).
The gathering, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of the accession of the National People’s Congress of China to the IPU, features the participation of several Speakers of Arab and African Parliaments. In this respect, the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, Hon. Zhao Leji, noted in his opening address that the remarkable and active participation of all the countries invited to this international event testifies to the commitment of developing countries to reinforcing cooperation between the Great South through strengthening multilateral parliamentary and political communication. He also highlighted China's readiness to share its successful experiences in development.
During his intervention in the first session of this Seminar on Jointly upholding peace and stability for common development and prosperity, Rep. Lahcen Elamoud pointed out that development in general, and sustainable development in particular, cannot be achieved without ensuring political stability and security within States and societies, considering that insecurity is synonymous with destruction and conflicts, while stability is a fundamental pillar of development, growth, and prosperity. He also stressed that the concepts of security and development are inseparable, as there is no development without security, and there is no place for security without achieving development for the people.
In the same respect, he added that parliamentarians in different countries can play important roles in achieving security and stability, noting that parliamentarians are first and foremost politicians, as their constitutional mandate within the framework of parliamentary diplomacy allows them to use peaceful means to resolve conflicts, including dialogue, good offices, mediation, and arbitration. Rep. Lahcen Elamoud also underscored that parliamentary diplomacy, through bilateral and multilateral relations, enables building bridges of cooperation and trust, creating initiatives, overcoming difficulties and obstacles, and contributing to the convergence of views and positions between parties.
For his part, Rep. Abdelkader Taher delivered an intervention during the third session on Respecting the diversity of civilizations and promoting cultural exchanges and mutual learning. In his intervention, he considered that in a world where technological development is accelerating, and communication between peoples is increasing, it is necessary to respect the differences and diversity of civilizations as an essential element to achieve peaceful coexistence and advance international cooperation. He also explained that cultural diversity is not only a reality for the world's peoples, but also an invaluable source of richness that fuels creativity and promotes mutual understanding among the peoples of the world's nations.
Besides, Rep. Abdelkader Taher added, “Respecting the diversity of civilizations reflects our appreciation of common human values as every civilization contributes to the global human fabric with its history, traditions, arts, and values. This diversity makes the world rich in experiences and knowledge and lays the foundations for dialogue that builds bridges between nations instead of barriers.”