New Delhi, 02 September (H.S.): Speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles Azarel Ernesta, accompanied by a delegation, met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at Parliament House on Wednesday. During the meeting, both sides discussed measures to further strengthen parliamentary cooperation, democratic values and bilateral relations between India and Seychelles.

The meeting also witnessed discussions on the prospects of bilateral cooperation in areas such as healthcare, digital transformation, infrastructure and renewable energy. The two leaders described the meeting, held in a warm and cordial atmosphere, as an important opportunity to give a new direction to parliamentary relations between India and Seychelles.

Birla lauded Ernesta’s efforts to strengthen democratic institutions as the first woman Speaker of Seychelles’ National Assembly. He congratulated her on the completion of 50 years of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles, as well as 50 years of Seychelles’ independence.

Birla and Ernesta expressed satisfaction over the fresh momentum imparted to bilateral ties by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Seychelles and his address to the country’s Parliament. Birla emphasised the need to enhance parliamentary cooperation between the two countries and strengthen their shared legacy of democratic values.

Birla invited members of the Seychelles Parliament to visit the Indian Parliament and gain a closer understanding of the country’s rich democratic system. He also proposed familiarising Seychellois parliamentarians with India’s parliamentary system, committee structure and Parliament Library.

He briefed the delegation on the transformation brought about in the Indian Parliament through the use of technology, innovation, Digital Parliament and artificial intelligence (AI). Birla said India would share its experience in parliamentary capacity-building with Seychelles through PRIDE and suggested that Seychellois parliamentarians and officials could benefit from PRIDE’s training programmes.

The two sides also discussed avenues for further strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries through culture, education and tourism, as well as opportunities to work together to amplify the voice of the Global South.

Describing Seychelles as a trusted partner of India in the Indian Ocean region, Birla highlighted its role in ‘Vision MAHASAGAR’. He stressed the need to enhance cooperation for regional peace and stability at multilateral platforms, including the United Nations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar