The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, convened the 9th China–African Union Strategic Dialogue at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa today.

The high‑level meeting, which underscores deepening ties between China and the African Union, took place alongside the opening ceremony of the 2026 China–Africa Year of People‑to‑People Exchanges — a yearlong initiative aimed at boosting cultural, educational, and civil society engagement between the two continents.

During the dialogue, both leaders exchanged views on key areas of cooperation, including efforts to advance modernization, strengthen global governance, expand zero‑tariff treatment, and promote peace and development in the Horn of Africa.

They highlighted the shared perspectives of China and the African Union as members of the Global South on major international and regional issues, and reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of developing nations while pledging mutual support on core priorities., according to a joint press release.

Minister Wang and Chairperson Youssouf also stressed the importance of upholding a global order grounded in international law — including respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the peaceful settlement of disputes — and expressed concern over recent developments in Venezuela, urging adherence to the UN Charter.

The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation across multiple fields, reinforcing alignment between China’s 15th Five‑Year Plan and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and its Second Ten‑Year Implementation Plan, as well as commitments under the Forum on China‑Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

They pledged improved coordination on major initiatives, including the AU’s Silencing the Guns by 2030 agenda and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), alongside China’s Global Security Initiative, Global Governance Initiative, and the International Organization for Mediation.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to executing all cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding, and agreed to explore new avenues for practical collaboration — with the goal of delivering tangible benefits for the peoples of Africa and China