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African states envision safer, richer, fairer continent

Xinhua, June 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

African countries have pledged to enhance cooperation to safeguard peace and security in the continent, and promote economic growth, prosperity and gender parity.

At the closing ceremony of the 25th African Union (AU) summit Tuesday, AU Chairperson Robert Mugabe said the meeting had achieved a lot addressing political, economic and social issues.

"The troubling state of peace and security in some parts of the continent was given priority in our discussions," said Mugabe, who is also Zimbabwean president. "We are resolved to continue pressing for dialogue where there are intra-state conflicts."

The AU also issued a statement against terrorism. "We condemn in strongest terms acts of terrorism being perpetrated by militant extremists in several parts of Africa."

"We resolved to confront terrorism collectively in order to defeat it completely and rid our continent of what is currently a menace to Africa," Mugabe said.

He also praised the body for launching the continental free trade area negotiations.

"We resolved to expedite the conclusion of the negotiations to speed up intra-African trade and commercial exchanges leading to continental economic integration and development," the chairman said.

AU leaders also agreed to implement the flagship projects of agenda 2063 to bring about economic growth and prosperity in Africa. They include free trade area, high-speed trains, the African center for disease control and the Pan African University.

Under the summit's theme -- "Year of women empowerment and development toward agenda 2063," Mugabe said Africa had reaffirmed the need to fast track gender parity.

"We resolved and committed ourselves to abolish all ills based on cultural and religious practices including early child marriages and gender based violence," Mugabe said.

These words were echoed by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in her closing remarks.

"Recognizing that our continent will not realize its development potential, if women continue to be the face of poverty, we have agreed to take concrete measures to empower women and give them full dignity including confining the hand held hoe to the museum," Sirleaf said. Endi