Doha, Qatar: The Shura Council held its regular weekly meeting at the Tamim bin Hamad Hall on Monday, under the chairmanship of HE the Speaker Hassan bin Abdulla Al Ghanim.
At the outset of the session, the Secretary-General HE Nayef bin Mohammed Al Mahmoud read out the agenda, and the minutes of the previous session were approved.
During the session, the Council approved a draft law regulating amended meteorological activities and services and referred it to the esteemed government after debating the Health, General Services and the Environment Committee's report.
The legislature also reviewed the esteemed government's statement on the Shura Council's proposals on the development of the automated system of the medical appointments in public health facilities and referred it to the Health, General Services and the Environment Committee for scrutiny.
The agenda also included discussions of two reports on the Council's participations in the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA)'s Standing Committee on Political Affairs in Baghdad and in the 16th Assembly of the Arab Scout Parliamentarians Union in Kuwait, both in January 2025.
HE Al Ghanim also briefed the members on the outcomes of his official visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan on April 4, topping a Shura Council delegation. The visit resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Shura Council and the Uzbek Senate aimed at strengthening relations and exchanging expertise.
In a related context, the Speaker briefed the members on the Council's participation, under his chairmanship, in the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-150) and the 215th session of the Governing Council, hosted by the Republic of Uzbekistan from April 5-9, under the theme parliamentary action for social development and justice.
His Excellency highlighted his meeting with President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, HE Shavkat Mirziyoyev, noting that the Uzbek President praised the development of relations between the two countries during the meeting.
In the same context, HE Al Ghanim noted the Governing Council's election of Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council HE Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti, as a member of the IPU Executive Committee and Vice-Chair of the Committee for the Arab Group. He also noted the General Assembly's approval of Member of the Shura Council HE Yousef bin Ali Al Khater to the Bureau of the IPU Standing Committee on Sustainable Development
His Excellency emphasized that the Shura Council's membership in the IPU Executive Committee confirms Qatar's pioneering role on the international stage. It also represents an appreciation of the Council's active role in parliamentary diplomacy, giving it a greater opportunity to contribute to formulating the policies and general directions of this important parliamentary group, serving the interests of peoples, particularly those of the Arab peoples, and promoting the concepts of peace, development, and understanding among nations.
HE the Speaker also briefed the members on President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Republic, HE Lorenzo Fontana's visit to Doha on Sunday, along with an accompanying delegation. HE Al Ghanim said the meetings that took place during the visit focused on ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
He added that the visit reflects the depth of bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, and the Councils keenness to enhance parliamentary cooperation with friendly countries, which contributes to the exchange of parliamentary expertise and experiences, and supports joint efforts to achieve mutual interests.
