The International Conference on “The Role of Parliamentarians in Boosting Economic Cooperation and Cultural Ties along the Silk Road” was held on 13 March 2018 in the capital of Azerbaijan and organized by the Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan and the Silk Road Support Group of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The conference included the participation of high-level members of the OSCE PA, along with a number of foreign ministers, speakers of parliament and heads of international organisations.

The opening ceremony was addressed by Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Mr. George Tsereteli, President of the OSCEPA, Mr. Damdin Tsogtbaatar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia; Head of the Delegation of Mongolia to the OSCE PA; Ms. Bahar Muradova, Vice-Chair of the Milli Mejlis and head of Azerbaijani delegation to the OSCEPA, Mr. Azay Guliyev, Vice-President of the OSCEPA, Mr. Asaf Hajiyev, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) and Mircea Ciopraga, Secretary General of the Intergovernmental Commission of the Transport Corridor of Europe, Caucasus and Asia (TRACECA).

Secretary General Mr. Altynbek Mamaiusupov, took part in the Conference and made a speech at the panel themed “Building Trust, Exchanging Culture and Promoting Dialogue”. In his speech, Secretary General emphasized the essential role of the Turkic-speaking countries in reviving the ancient Silk Road as they occupy enormous part of this route. Mr. Mamaiusupov also underlined that practical development of the New Silk Road primarily needs legislative support and various inter-parliamentary platforms, including TURKPA, affords such an opportunity to contribute to this process.

The Conference ended with adoption of the Declaration.