Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has met with the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, who is on an official three-day visit to the country.
It is the AU Commission chairman's first visit to China since assuming office. Wang and Faki co-chaired the 7th China-AU Strategic Dialogue in Beijing on Thursday.
They exchanged views on priority areas for the AU, such as infrastructure building, peace and security, and public health.
Wang said China fully supported Africa's drive for sustainable development, and it was keen to make the most of the upcoming Forum of China-Africa Cooperation.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat in Beijing. /CGTN Photo
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat in Beijing. /CGTN Photo
"In September, we are going to host the FOCAC Summit in Beijing. We have extended invitations to African countries. China will work with the AU Commission and all the African members of the FOCAC under the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, to make the FOCAC Summit a historical gathering for China-Africa solidarity and cooperation," Wang added.
"We have received an invitation to participate in the FOCAC Summit in Beijing. We will also be involved in the preparations for convening a successful summit. We thank the Chinese for supporting the AU in setting up an office in China. Given the importance of our bilateral ties, we will work together in establishing an official African Union office in Beijing," said Faki.
Both agreed to advance the integration between the AU 2063 Agenda and the ten major China-Africa cooperation plans proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2015.
They said they would work together to intensify their coordination in international and regional affairs, as well as promote peace and development in China, Africa and the developing world.