Representatives of 35 African political parties have met in the Sudanese capital Khartoum to establish a joint forum meant to increase unity among the African nations.

"I suggest this meeting will be one of the basic steps to complete the unity of Africa," Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said on Saturday during his opening speech to the first conference of the Council of the African Political Parties

Bashir stated that despite the African continent's rich history and its population of over one billion it does not have proportionate representation at international forums.

"This meeting wants to unite the African political parties. We want to create a political body for all the parties," said Nafie Ali Nafie, a Sudanese government official.

He said that only those parties, which have representatives in their parliaments, were invited to the conference.

A Zambian delegate said the two-day conference was organized and planned by Sudan's ruling National Congress Party.

African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs Aisha Abdullahi attended the opening session.