ALGIERS — The Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (Parlatino) congratulated the People’s National Assembly (Parliament’s lower house) following Algeria’s admission as an observer member to the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Association of South East Asian Nations (AIPA), the lower house said Sunday in a release.

The lower house received Saturday a congratulatory message from Parlatino, following Algeria’s admission as an observer member to AIPA, the same source said.

In its message, Parlatino emphasized that Algeria’s admission to this important parliamentary body “represents an important step” in the context of South-South relations, and serves to reaffirm the commitment to parliamentary dialogue and pluralism.