Istanbul, April 15 (QNA) - The 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has opened in Istanbul,Turkiye, bringing together parliamentary leaders from around the world to discuss global peace, development, and governance challenges.

The opening session saw wide participation from speakers and heads of legislative bodies, including a delegation from the State of Qatar's Shura Council led by HE the Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim.

Speakers at the opening stressed the importance of strengthening international parliamentary cooperation to address growing global challenges, protect international peace, and promote sustainable development for future generations.

The session was held under the theme "Nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations", and included a recorded address from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who highlighted key issues on the assembly's agenda.

The IPU said this year's discussions come amid complex global conditions requiring multi-level parliamentary responses, with topics including international peace and security, post-conflict governance, social justice, and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

The State of Qatar's participation also included contributions to the 5th Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network, where lawmakers discussed the role of parliaments in promoting climate-resilient urban development.

Addressing the conference, HE Ahmed bin Hitmi Al Hitmi said climate change poses increasing pressures on developing countries, including resource scarcity and environmental risks, requiring more resilient urban planning models.

He highlighted Qatar's commitment to sustainability under its National Vision 2030, pointing to investments in sustainable infrastructure, clean energy expansion, and resource efficiency.

He also noted the role of the Shura Council in supporting these goals through legislative and oversight work, stressing that addressing climate challenges requires stronger parliamentary cooperation, particularly in climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building. (QNA)