DUSHANBE, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Lawmakers from five Central Asian countries met in Dushanbe on Thursday for the fourth Inter-Parliamentary Forum of Central Asian States, held under the theme "Unity for the Sake of Peace, Security, and Prosperity in Central Asia," Tajikistan's Khovar news agency reported.
The forum was chaired by Rustam Emomali, chairman of the National Assembly of Tajikistan's Supreme Assembly and mayor of Dushanbe. Representatives of the parliaments of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan attended.
In his address, Emomali said a new system of regional cooperation was gradually taking shape in Central Asia, with relations among countries in the region continuing to develop. The process was based on aligning national interests, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation and strengthening the region's economic potential amid changing geopolitical conditions, he added.
Emomali also highlighted the important role of parliaments in strengthening the legal foundation for regional cooperation, implementing agreements reached and facilitating their practical implementation.
The forum adopted the Dushanbe Declaration. Participants expressed confidence that the meeting would help strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation and promote friendly and mutually beneficial ties among Central Asian countries. ■
