China, African Union reaffirm strong bonds for future partnerships

The African Union, or AU, on Thursday reaffirmed its firm adherence to the one-China principle and expressed strong support for all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification, according to a joint press communique.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the ninth China-AU Strategic Dialogue with AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Youssouf, at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. They also jointly attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

During the meeting, both sides agreed that China and the AU should work together to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South, while continuing to support each other on core interests and major concerns.

They stressed the importance of strengthening coordination and cooperation to inject more positive energy into global and regional peace, stability and development.

They voiced serious concern over recent developments in Venezuela, reiterating that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected, and that the fundamental principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and international law must be upheld.

The two sides underlined the need to uphold an international order based on international law, emphasizing respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Wang and Youssouf exchanged views on advancing joint modernization between China and Africa, global governance, China's zero-tariff initiative for African countries, the International Organization for Mediation, and the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa.