World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
African lawmakers meet in Beijing to exchange legislative experience with China
A seminar for African lawmakers opened in Beijing on November 7, bringing legislators from several African countries together with Chinese counterparts.
Participants said they want to deepen exchanges on lawmaking and how governments manage public affairs.
The seminar comes as China and African countries mark 70 years of diplomatic relations this year.
China has also proposed cooperation under its “Ten Partnership Actions,” following a 2024 China-Africa summit in Beijing.
Lawmakers pointed to Chinese experience in poverty reduction and infrastructure as potentially useful for African countries pursuing development suited to their own needs.
Kenya’s Ahmed Shabbir said China’s zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries, in force since May 1, could create opportunities for African exports and jobs.
Participants are due to visit Shandong and Hunan, and said they hope to take what they learn back home and strengthen cooperation.
African lawmakers met in Beijing for a workshop to exchange views and experience with China.
The workshop opened on November 7, with participants saying they wanted closer ties between African and Chinese legislative bodies.
China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee Vice Chairman Zheng Jianbang said China was ready to deepen exchanges with African parliaments and the Pan-African Parliament.
Participants said China’s experience in poverty reduction, infrastructure and green development could inform African countries’ development paths.
The program includes visits to Shandong and Hunan.
- Who
- Lawmakers from African countries and representatives of China’s National People’s Congress.
- What
- They met for a workshop on exchanging governance and legislative experience and exploring cooperation.
- When
- The opening ceremony was held on November 7. The article was published on November 10, 2026.
- Where
- Beijing, China; the program also includes visits to Shandong and Hunan.
- Why
- To deepen exchanges between African and Chinese legislative bodies and explore cooperation.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
China proposed advancing the “Six Modernizations” and implementing the “Ten Partnership Actions” at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
China began fully implementing zero-tariff measures for 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, according to a Kenyan lawmaker.
The African lawmakers’ workshop opened in Beijing.
- Opening ceremony
- November 7, Beijing
- Chinese official
- Zheng Jianbang, vice chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee
- Planned visits
- Shandong and Hunan
- Zero-tariff measures
- Applied from May 1 to 53 African countries with diplomatic relations with China
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What people are saying
This workshop provides a good platform for African lawmakers to learn more about China and jointly explore new prospects for Africa-China cooperation.
We hope to exchange experience, increase mutual understanding and explore new paths for cooperation between African and Chinese legislative bodies.
This has opened a door of opportunity for us and will strongly boost exports of African agricultural and handicraft products, promote industrial development and increase people’s incomes.
As lawmakers, we are a bridge between governments and the people, and have a responsibility to turn China-Africa’s “Ten Partnership Actions” into tangible, lasting improvements in people’s livelihoods.