Amman, Jan. 26 (Petra) -- A Jordanian parliamentary delegation, headed by Lower House Second Deputy Speaker Ibrahim Sarayrah, took part in the plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) held in Manama.

Jordan believes that the fate of peoples is closely tied to their ability to engage in dialogue and cooperation, Sarayrah said in remarks at the conference, stressing joint parliamentary action as a key instrument to build a future of stability and development in Asia.

The continent, he said, faces unprecedented geopolitical and economic challenges, which places a double historical and moral responsibility on parliamentarians, adding that Asia, with its diversity and great human and natural potential, should be an arena for development and peace, not conflicts and disputes.

During the session, attended by parliamentary speakers and delegations from various Asian countries, Sarayrah called for closer intercultural and inter-civilizational dialogue as a security and social imperative to protect societies from extremism and isolation.

He also stressed the centrality of the Palestinian issue, reaffirming Jordan's unwavering support of the Palestinian people's right to regain their legitimate historical rights, as enshrined in international UN resolutions, foremost among them is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He also reaffirmed the historical Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem as the safeguard for preserving the existing historical and legal status quo and protecting the holy shrines from attempts at erasure or Judaization.

Sarairah further called for enhancing Asian integration through three main tracks: economic and sustainable development, social and cultural cooperation, and political affairs, budget, and planning. This will ensure the efficiency of parliamentary work and translate APA's resolutions into practical programs that benefit Asian countries.

//Petra// AO