Luanda - Angolan MP Ângela Bragança said in Bali, Indonesia, that the growing ‘warmongering escalation’ in the world continues to decimate the lives of innocent people and contribute to the delay in realising the goals of the African Union's Agenda 2023 and 2063.
Speaking at the 1st Indonesia-Africa Parliamentary Forum, which ended on Monday, she stressed that Angola had taken part in the meeting confident of a future of cooperation that would strengthen ties, create bridges and increasingly shorten the path to harmonious development for both countries.
The road to development, she said, must be paved with actions that promote value chains, inclusive legislation, south-south cooperation, oversight and transparency, strategic partnerships, education, training and the promotion of corporate social responsibility.
Regarding the themes being addressed at the Forum, such as ‘Building Resilient Communities through
Health and Food Safety Initiatives’ and ‘Harnessing Trade and Investment Potential for Inclusive Economic Growth’, Ângela Bragança said they were complementary because they were different components for promoting economic growth and inclusion.
The forum wanted parliaments to take advantage of exchange programmes for agricultural experts and scientists between Indonesia and Africa, in order to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and South-South learning.
The parliamentarian recalled that Angola and Indonesia established diplomatic relations several years ago, but only in 2023 did the Executive decide to open an embassy in that country, believing it to be an asset and a mechanism for realising cooperation that is intended to be growing, solid and constructive, both at government and parliamentary level.
‘There is potential, opportunities and challenges, we have to define the path, but it can be realised,’ she stressed.
Ângela Bragança, who was also accompanied by MPs Clarice Kaputo and Leonor da Lima e Cruz, said that the delegation ‘felt, from the moment they arrived, the spirit of Bandung, witnessed in the solidarity and mutual co-operation that is the aim of this Conference’.
She said that Angola's participation in the event was an opportunity to build cooperation that favours development, through the sharing of knowledge, experiences and technology.
The event brought together representatives from 22 countries, including nine presidents of parliaments, and serves as a springboard to harness cooperation between parliamentarians from both regions.
Parliamentary partnership for local development
The three-day meeting, which took place under the slogan ‘Forging the Indonesia-Africa Parliamentary Partnership for Local Development’, was chaired by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.
It aimed to discuss and generate momentum to improve the dynamics between African countries and Indonesia.
The first day was reserved for a special session called ‘South-South Co-operation for Prosperity and Sustainability’, focusing on the close historical relationship with Indonesia.
During the session, the speakers emphasised issues related to the importance of South-South cooperation, with an emphasis, in this context, on drawing inspiration from the spirit of the Bandung Conference held in 1955 (anti-colonial struggle and solidarity).
The participants also focused on current challenges (economic development, renewable energies and technology/digital transformation), the need to recognise cultural diversity, stages of development, as well as identifying and valuing converging points for serious and constructive South-South cooperation on a ‘win-win’ basis.
The agenda also included approaches to the need for South-South Cooperation to be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union's Agenda 2063, as well as boosting and strengthening the path towards development and promoting unity, for a stronger voice in the international arena.
The programme also included approaches to ‘Building Resilient Communities through Health and Food Security Initiatives’ and ‘Harnessing Trade and Investment Potential for Inclusive Economic Growth’.
The aim, according to the organisation, was to explore the dynamic role that trade and investment play in promoting inclusive economic growth in developing regions, particularly between Indonesia and African nations.
‘There is great potential for cooperation that needs to be optimised, considering that Indonesia and Africa have abundant natural resources that require cooperation to implement the sustainable development agenda, including the energy transition,’ says the organisation.
The forum also served to improve collaboration between Indonesian and African parliamentarians, as well as produce new commitments in a comprehensive plan to encourage long-term development cooperation between the two parties.FMA/ART/DAN/DOJ
