Tashkent: Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, Speaker of the Council of Representatives, met with Peter De Roover, President of the Belgian House of Representatives, and Vincent Blondel, President of the Belgian Senate, on the sidelines of the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), held in Uzbekistan. The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Belgium, particularly in the parliamentary and economic fields, with an emphasis on expanding trade exchange and joint investment initiatives.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the discussions highlighted the commitment of both countries’ monarchs, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Majesty King Philippe Leopold Louis Marie, to advancing cooperation in various sectors. Al Musallam emphasized the importance of parliamentary collaboration as a foundation for broader bilateral engagement and for supporting regional peace, stability, and prosperity. He also stressed the need for continued coordination in international parliamentary forums.
The Belgian parliamentary leaders praised the theme of the 150th IPU Assembly, which centers on parliamentary action for social development and justice. They highlighted the importance of adopting a global treaty on the governance of artificial intelligence and called for joint parliamentary efforts in this area. Additionally, both leaders expressed support for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a return to negotiations, and the two-state solution.
The meeting also explored prospects for greater cooperation between Bahrain’s Council of Representatives and Shura Council, and Belgium’s Federal Parliament and Senate. Discussions included mechanisms for exchanging expertise and best practices, and both sides considered the possibility of signing a cooperation agreement in the near future at both the parliamentary and administrative levels.
Both delegations reaffirmed the strong Bahraini-Belgian ties, which are rooted in mutual respect and shared interests. They welcomed the progress made through political consultations, development cooperation, and enhanced dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union (EU).