Speaker of the House of Representatives Ali Abdel Aal inaugurated a joint session of the Arab and African parliaments in the Egyptian Red Sea resort city of Sharm el Sheikh Monday. 

This meeting is the start of action to expand cooperation between the Arab Parliament (AP) and Pan African Parliament (PAP) with the aim to activate their supervisory and legislative role, Abdel Aal said. 
The meeting today is meant to probe all points of concern to the Arab and African nations, Abdel Aal said. 

He touched upon an "important turning point" in Egypt's relations with Africa during the rule of late president Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Back then, Egypt had supported African national liberation movements in their efforts to gain independence, Abdel Aal noted.

"Thanks to joint efforts between Egypt and the African liberation movements, 30 African countries were able to gain independence by 1963."

Since then Africa has started upgrading its resources and its ties with Egypt have become a priority, the speaker of the Egyptian parliament further said.

He hailed as "firm and strong" Egypt's return to Africa with the aim to promote constructive cooperation among countries in the continent. 
The Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union is keen on boosting relations with the Pan African Parliament in the coming stage, Abdel Aal said. 

He pointed to the first joint meeting between the AP and PAP in March 1984, which was an important step on the road toward boosting Arab-African cooperation at all levels.

He stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation between the two parliaments in a way that would serve the common interests of the Arab and African peoples.

Advanced countries are urged to look into economic, social and health problems in the African continent and contribute to solving them instead of exercising pressure on the economies of the developing countries that had been robbed of their riches over decades of colonization, Abdel Aal said.

He also called on the AP and PAP to play a pivotal role in solving regional problems in Africa in order to achieve security, peace and stability.

Abdel Aal also rejected any foreign interference in Arab and African affairs and urged Arab and African governments to act together in the face of terrorism and extremism. 
Arab Parliament speaker Ahmed al Jarwan said Egypt's hosting of the joint session of Arab and African parliaments highlights the importance attached to Arab-African relations and partnership in line with the Cairo summit resolutions in 1977.

He said the two sides agreed to the importance of promoting Arab-African relations and working on developing cooperation between the two sides, which is based on mutual respect and interest.
Jarwan pointed out to the challenges facing the African continent as a result of the presence of terrorist groups including Daesh and Boko Haram.

He expressed hope that the outcome of joint session between the Arab and African parliaments would be referred to the Arab-African summit, which will be held in Equatorial Guinea next month under the rubric "together for sustainable development and economic cooperation", to activate Arab-African cooperation to face the challenges. 
Jawaran extended thanks to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi for hosting the joint session of Arab and African parliaments to promote relations between Arab and African peoples.

He said the Arab-African coordination would strengthen joint cooperation through activating the Arab-African partnership and serving mutual issues of concern topped by the Palestinian cause.

He stressed the importance of intensifying efforts of combating human trafficking, illegal arms, money laundering and the threats of all terrorist groups. 

Source: MENA