Jakarta — Indonesia officially opened the 19th Session of the Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC), held in Jakarta, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of this parliamentary organization of Islamic countries. The event was attended by parliamentary delegations from dozens of OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) member states, marking a shared commitment to strengthening Muslim solidarity amid increasingly complex global challenges.
President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, in his opening speech, expressed gratitude for the trust placed in Indonesia to host this important forum of Islamic parliaments.
“I am grateful that Indonesia has been entrusted to host the 19th PUIC session, while also celebrating the 25th anniversary of this organization,” President Prabowo stated.
He further emphasized that the PUIC is the result of a collective awareness among Islamic nations of the importance of an inter-parliamentary diplomacy platform to safeguard the interests of Muslims.
“Since its establishment in 1999, this union of Islamic parliaments has been determined to serve as a bridge for parliamentary diplomacy that strengthens solidarity, upholds justice, and offers solutions to the complex challenges of global life,” he affirmed.
In the context of a world currently marked by polarization, conflicts, and great-power rivalries, President Prabowo highlighted the increasing relevance and urgency of PUIC’s role. He also underscored Indonesia’s constitutional mandate to promote global peace.
“The 1945 Constitution clearly mandates the Indonesian nation to participate in maintaining world order based on independence, lasting peace, and social justice. This is the moral compass of our foreign policy,” said the President.
Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Puan Maharani, also delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of a collective spirit among OIC parliaments in shaping a more just and humane global order.
“This is the spirit we now share, fellow parliamentarians of OIC countries — a spirit of working together to build a better global order for all of humanity,” said Puan.
She reflected on the great hopes that accompanied the founding of PUIC 25 years ago — hopes for a better life and an advanced civilization in the Islamic world. However, she reminded the audience that many challenges remain.
“There is still much work to be done in building a global order that addresses issues such as economic inequality, climate change, Palestinian independence, and women’s empowerment,” she explained.
According to Puan, the PUIC’s Silver Jubilee in 2025 must serve as a new starting point to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation among OIC members. She called for stronger collective commitment and solidarity to influence the course of global change.
“We in PUIC must strengthen our commitment, unity, and solidarity so that we can take a stand and influence the global order toward a better direction,” she concluded.
The 19th PUIC Session in Jakarta will continue over several days, addressing various strategic issues facing the Islamic world and enhancing the role of OIC parliaments as key players in global diplomacy and advocates for the Muslim ummah.