On the first day of the Parliamentary Forum of G20 Parliaments, taking place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Chairperson Ms Thandi Modise participated in deliberations on a wide range of topics.
These included meeting the challenges of a changing world; financing for development in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals; making development work for women; and ensuring transparent and effective governance, free from corruption.
This international engagement of heads of Parliaments from G20 countries is taking place a few weeks ahead of the 2018 G20 Leaders’ Summit. The theme of this Leaders’ Summit, also scheduled to be held in Argentina, is: “Building consensus for fair and sustainable development”. The G20 Leaders’ Summit takes place from 30 November to 1 December.
On the sidelines of today’s Parliamentary Forum, Ms Modise held bilateral discussions with her Turkish counterpart, Mr. Binali Yildirim, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The two Presiding Officers stressed the need for stronger parliamentary relations between the national legislatures of South Africa and Turkey to take forward agreements entered into between their governments.
In July, the President of Turkey, Mr Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, attended the tenth summit of the BRICS bloc, which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Ms Modise and Mr Yildirim agreed, in their bilateral today, that a more effective parliamentary friendship between their Parliaments was necessary for the benefit of the people of both countries.
The two counterparts exchanged invitations, as part of a joint effort to forge closer ties, deepen people to people relations and partnerships to ensure bilateral agreements benefit the people of both nations.
“As government to government relations continues, we hope that our parliamentary relations will also strengthen, Ms Modise said. “Parliaments are voices of the people and should reflect their opinions and aspirations.
“We must, therefore, intensify our endeavors and our commitments to improve their conditions of life. It is important that the two parliaments arrange regular interactions to share experiences and learn from each other,” Ms Modise said.
On Thursday, the NCOP Chairperson is scheduled to moderate the discussion on the future of work at the Parliamentary Forum and to deliver a presentation at the Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit on the future of work, the fight against corruption and gender equality at an open discussion.
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