Amman, May 7 (Petra)-- Senator Suhair Al-Ali stressed the importance of finding solutions to geopolitical conflicts, economic instability, and growing tensions affecting international trade and global supply chains during meetings of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM).

Al-Ali, who serves as Assistant Speaker of the Senate as well as Vice President of PAM and Chair of its Second Standing Committee on Economic, Social and Environmental Cooperation, delivered remarks during the opening of the assembly’s 20th session on Friday, according to a statement issued by the Senate.

She highlighted the importance of strengthening multilateral dialogue and coordinated parliamentary action to address international conflicts and tensions, noting that PAM represents 35 parliaments from the Mediterranean region and the Arab Gulf.

Al-Ali emphasized the need for closer cooperation with international financial institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, while expanding partnerships with the World Trade Organization.

She also underscored the importance of public-private partnerships, economic integration, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and the development of digital infrastructure and governance frameworks to support sustainable economic growth.

The Jordanian senator called for greater support for initiatives related to sustainable energy and climate change mitigation, stressing the importance of enhancing food security in cooperation with international food organizations amid ongoing regional and global crises.

She also urged stronger political and economic participation of women and greater engagement of youth in public life, while advocating for broader international representation of PAM and accession to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

On the sidelines of the assembly’s session, Al-Ali chaired a meeting of PAM’s Second Standing Committee on Economic, Social and Environmental Cooperation.

During the meeting, she said the world is undergoing a profound transformation marked by persistent geopolitical tensions and conflicts, emphasizing that security, stability, and predictability are essential for economic growth and investment partnerships.

Al-Ali pointed to the accelerating climate crisis and rapid technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence, saying these developments require PAM to strengthen its role as a platform for parliamentary dialogue and cooperation through active participation in major international forums, including the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and IMF and the OECD Global Parliamentary Network.

She called for increased focus on economic resilience, sustainable investment, and inclusive growth, as well as stronger environmental and climate engagement through participation in major international conferences, including the United Nations Environment Assembly, the UN Ocean Conference, and follow-up on the outcomes of COP31.

Al-Ali also proposed establishing a parliamentary energy community linking the Mediterranean and Gulf regions and expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, while promoting inclusive and ethical digital governance to advance economic and digital development.

"Today’s global challenges are deeply interconnected and require coordinated, comprehensive, and forward-looking responses," Al-Ali said, stressing the critical role of parliamentary diplomacy in building trust and transforming shared challenges into collective action.

The committee meeting also reviewed and discussed reports on global environmental sustainability trends and environmental challenges facing PAM member states, as well as global and regional economic trends across Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Gulf region.

//Petra// MF