Istanbul, April 16 (QNA) - The Shura Council participated Thursday in the 217th session of the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), as part of the 152nd Assembly of the IPU, currently underway in Istanbul, Turkiye.

The Shura Council was represented at the event by HE Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti; HE Council Member, Dr. Sultan bin Hassan Al Dhabit Al Dosari; and HE Council Member, Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al Maliki.

During the session, the attendees approved the summary report of the 216th session of the Council, along with a review by the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) of the Presidency's activities since the previous Governing Council meeting, as well as the activities of the Executive Committee.

The Secretary General of the IPU also presented the Union's 2025 State of the Union and Impact Report.

HE Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti, who is also member of the IPU Executive Committee and Vice-Chair of the Committee representing the Arab Group within the Union, participated in the 299th meeting of the IPU Executive Committee.

The attendees reviewed a number of institutional and strategic topics, most notably the procedures for selecting the new Secretary General, strengthening governance and accountability through performance reports, discussing financial matters and adopting audited financial statements, as well as discussing the membership status of some parliaments and parliamentary diplomacy initiatives to support the peaceful settlement of conflicts.

The meeting also addressed preparations for the General Assembly and the future directions of the Union within its 2027-2031 strategy, aimed at strengthening multilateral parliamentary action and supporting international peace and security efforts.

The Shura Council, represented by HE Council Member, Ahmed bin Hitmi Al Hitmi participated in the meeting of the Standing Committee for International Peace and Security, and by HE Council Member Yousef bin Ali Al Khater, participated in the meeting of the Standing Committee for Sustainable Development. (QNA)