ANKARA

The Indonesia-Africa Parliamentary Forum (IAPF) 2024 opened on Sunday in the tourist resort of Bali, with representatives and parliamentary chairpersons from 22 countries in attendance, according to state-run media outlet Antara News.

The major summit, held in Nusa Dua, Bali, was inaugurated by the Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Puan Maharani who urged participants to strengthen partnerships between their countries for the benefit of their people.

"I invite you to emphasize that parliament will lead the fight for peace and prosperity in Africa, Indonesia, and globally," Maharani said during the opening session.

Maharani highlighted the importance of enhancing relationships between Indonesia and African nations, stressing that parliaments should play a pivotal role in strengthening ties between their respective governments.

"Various global crises directly impact our citizens; the parliament must be more active in addressing global problems," she added.

The three-day summit, themed "Forging Indonesia-Africa Parliamentary Partnership for Development," will continue until Tuesday, focusing on deepening cooperation and addressing shared global challenges.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid