By Lawal Sale
The African Union (AU) and the People’s Republic of China on Thursday reaffirmed their strategic partnership and commitment to strengthening cooperation on modernization, global governance, peace and development, following the 9th China–African Union Strategic Dialogue held at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
According to a statement from the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, the dialogue was co-chaired by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, H.E. Wang Yi. On the same occasion, both leaders jointly attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on deepening China–Africa cooperation in advancing modernization, strengthening global governance, expanding zero-tariff treatment, supporting the International Organization for Mediation, and promoting peace and development in the Horn of Africa.
The statement added that the two sides described China and the African Union, as members of the Global South that share broad consensus on major international and regional issues.
Both African Union and China stressed the importance of safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South and reaffirmed their commitment to mutual support on core interests and major concerns, while enhancing coordination to promote global and regional peace, stability and development.
The African Union reaffirmed its firm commitment to the One-China principle, emphasizing that there is but one China in the world, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.
Both sides reiterated the importance of upholding a global order based on international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes. They also expressed concern over recent developments in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, reaffirming that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law.
On development cooperation, the two sides underscored the need to enhance alignment between China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and the African Union’s Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063, as well as commitments under the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
They further agreed to strengthen communication, coordination and mutual support on major initiatives, including Agenda 2063 and its flagship projects such as Silencing the Guns by 2030 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), alongside China’s Global Security Initiative, Global Governance Initiative and the International Organization for Mediation.
The statement concluded with the pledge by both parties to reaffirm their commitment to the effective implementation of existing cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding and agreed to explore new opportunities for practical cooperation aimed at delivering tangible benefits to the peoples of Africa and China. (GSF)
