Urumqi, China – September 15, 2025
At the 2025 Legislators Forum for Friendly Exchanges in Urumqi, Hon. Oluwole Oke, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Nigeria, called on lawmakers across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and other developing regions to institutionalize parliamentary cooperation as the bedrock of South–South Cooperation.
Oke emphasized that while governments of the Global South have expanded cooperation in trade, technology, and health, legislative platforms remain weak. “Executives may sign agreements,” he warned, “but without parliamentary diplomacy and oversight, such cooperation cannot be sustainable or people-centered.”
Historical Roots of Solidarity
South–South Cooperation (SSC), Oke
reminded participants, has a proud lineage. It was first shaped at the 1955 Bandung Conference, where newly independent nations took a collective stand against global inequalities. This spirit later gave rise to the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961 and the Group of 77 in 1964, which institutionalized solidarity among developing nations.
What began as political solidarity, Oke noted, has now grown into a broad framework covering trade, education, health, technology, and climate action, all designed to reduce dependency on the Global North.
Objectives of the Dialogue
The Nigerian lawmaker outlined five objectives for the Global South Legislators Dialogue:
Strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation and networking.
* Harmonize policies to reduce trade and legal barriers.
* Enhance legislative oversight for transparent, citizen-centered agreements.
* Build collective advocacy in global governance institutions.
* Ensure people-centered development by aligning citizens’ needs with international partnerships.
Present Achievements
Oke pointed to significant progress already achieved, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is now the largest single market by membership; BRICS expansion; and South-led digital payment systems and innovation hubs.
He also cited vaccine production partnerships between India, Brazil, and African nations, as well as scholarship programs linking Asia, Africa, and Latin America. On the global stage, he noted, the Global South has become increasingly vocal in the WTO, UN climate negotiations, and IMF reform debates.
Challenges Ahead
Despite these gains, Oke highlighted ongoing challenges:
* Persistent trade imbalances and over-reliance on commodity exports.
* Political fragmentation and diverse governance systems.
* Uneven access to digital infrastructure.
* Rising debt burdens that limit fiscal space.
* Climate vulnerabilities that disproportionately affect the Global South.
“Without robust parliamentary platforms,” Oke cautioned, “these achievements risk being undermined by weak accountability and lack of citizen ownership.”
The Way Forward
Building on initiatives like the BRICS Parliamentary Forum and the 2024 South–South Parliamentary Cooperation Conference hosted in Morocco, Oke urged lawmakers to create structured and harmonized frameworks for parliamentary diplomacy.
He proposed measures such as sharing best practices, promoting technology transfer, aligning strategies for climate action, and amplifying the collective voice of the Global South on international development issues.
Conclusion
Oke’s closing message was clear: “Our task in Urumqi is to transform parliamentary friendship into a force for shared prosperity. If legislators of the Global South align our voices and actions, South–South Cooperation will not only endure, it will thrive as a people-driven, accountable, and future-focused framework for global justice.”
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