Off the wire
• Spotlight: Europe's leaders call for "more Europe" amid multiple crises  • Iceland lifts nuclear-related sanctions against Iran  • China supports Arab world to solve problems on its own: Chinese president  • 1st LD Writethru: Xi urges Middle East countries to address differences through dialogue  • China, Egypt urge peace talks between Syrian government, opposition  • Chinese ambassador to Madagascar decorated commander of national order  • Urgent: 4 killed, 10 injured in Egypt's Giza blast  • 1st LD Writethru: Kenyan soldiers kill senior Al-Shabaab commander  • Urgent: Kenyan soldiers kill senior Al-Shabaab commander  • 1st LD: Car bomb hits Mogadishu holiday resort  
You are here: 　 Home

AU, China ink deal on building project, vow to boost partnership

Xinhua, January 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

The African Union (AU) and China on Thursday signed agreements on the handover of upgrade work done at the AU Conference Center and Office Complex Project (AUCC) and an expansion project at the seat of the pan-African bloc.

Jennifer Susan Chiriga, AU Chief of Staff, signed the agreements with Kuang Weilin, Head of Chinese Mission to AU, and Xia Fang, Vice President of Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Group.

The move is the latest in a string of efforts to boost their overall cooperation and partnership.

AUCC is one of the eight actions sponsored by the Chinese government for Africa's further development and also the second largest project sponsored by China after the Tanzania-Zambia railway project.

The AUCC project, covers 13.2 hectares, with a floor area of approximately 51,000 square meters, has been carried out with a grant investment by the Chinese government amounting to 237 million Chinese yuan.

Kuang Weilin and Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission, have recently been in attendance of the joint inspection of Equipment and System Improvement and Upgrading of the AUCC Project.

The second expansion project comprises a dining hall for AU representatives and staff, an archive center, a printing center, a certification center, and other facilities provided with partial supporting equipment and furniture.

Speaking during the signing ceremony Chiriga hailed China's strong partnership and friendship with the AU Commission and the African continent.

"On behalf of the AU Commission, I would like to say that today marks a very important step in this very strong relationship and partnership that China has with our organization.

"So, on behalf of the AU Commission, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to China, which is a very, very strong partner and friend of the AU Commission and of Africa," she said.

Stating that China is always by the side of AU, Kuang noted that China would continue to further strengthen its partnership with AU.

"I think it is a very big moment for the relationship, cooperation between China and the African Union. The signing of the two documents demonstrates that China and the African Union will continue to cooperate in the days to come; and the relationship and cooperation between the two sides has really entered a new phase," noted Kuang.

He also expressed his firm belief that the Chinese company, which has signed the contract for the expansion project, would accomplish the project successfully. Endit