BEIJING, China, November 7, 2026 – The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has called for more structured cooperation between African and Chinese legislative institutions, saying stronger parliamentary engagement is needed to ensure that commitments made under the Africa-China partnership translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
The call was made by Hon. Kevin C. Lukeeram, Chairperson of the PAP Committee on Justice and Human Rights and leader of the Parliament’s delegation to the Seminar for Parliamentarians from African Countries, which is taking place in Beijing from November 6 to 12.
Addressing the opening session, Lukeeram said exchanges between legislators could help strengthen public institutions, improve governance, support economic development and advance Africa’s continental integration agenda.
The seminar, organised and funded by China’s National People’s Congress, is being held under the theme, “Deepening Exchanges and Mutual Learning Between Legislative Bodies and Advancing the Ten China-Africa Partnership Actions.”
Lukeeram thanked the Chinese Government and the National People’s Congress for hosting the programme, describing it as an investment in institutional development, the exchange of expertise and stronger relationships between African and Chinese parliamentarians.
He said legislatures had an important responsibility to ensure that international agreements and partnerships were implemented in ways that serve the interests of ordinary people.
“Parliaments are essential pillars of democratic governance, accountability, representation and national development,” he said.
Referring to the Ten China-Africa Partnership Actions announced during the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Lukeeram identified several areas where closer engagement could advance shared development objectives.
These include trade, industrialisation, infrastructure and connectivity, agriculture, healthcare, technology, green development and common security.
He said legislative institutions needed effective laws and oversight mechanisms to support the delivery of these commitments and ensure accountability in their implementation.
Lukeeram also pointed to China’s development experience as a source of lessons for African countries, particularly in long-term economic planning, infrastructure investment, industrial growth, poverty reduction, agricultural modernisation and the development of human capital.
He encouraged parliamentarians attending the seminar to examine these experiences and consider how relevant approaches could be adapted to the different economic and social conditions across Africa.
The PAP committee chairperson said the continent continued to face major development challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, unemployment, limited local processing of natural resources and fragmented markets.
He called for partnerships that would expand Africa’s productive capacity, improve access to technology and technical skills, and create more opportunities for young people.
“We must move from exporting raw materials to processing and manufacturing,” he urged.
Lukeeram identified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a major instrument for achieving this transition, saying cooperation in infrastructure development, industrial value chains, technology and access to markets could strengthen trade across the continent.
He linked these priorities to the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which sets out the continent’s long-term development ambitions.
Beyond economic cooperation, Lukeeram called for regular and institutionalised engagement between China’s National People’s Congress, the Pan-African Parliament and national legislatures across Africa.
He welcomed provisions in the 2025–2027 FOCAC Beijing Action Plan that support engagement with African regional parliamentary organisations, including the Pan-African Parliament.
He expressed hope that the Beijing seminar would help advance these commitments by creating opportunities for sustained dialogue and practical cooperation between legislative institutions.
Lukeeram said the Pan-African Parliament’s mandate to promote the participation of African citizens in continental governance made the engagement particularly important.
He said the discussions offered an opportunity to identify areas for parliamentary collaboration, strengthen legislative oversight of development agreements and expand parliamentary diplomacy between Africa and China.
The Pan-African Parliament delegation attending the seminar also includes Hon. Aisha Adams, First Vice President of the Women’s Caucus.
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