AU-EU summit opens with calls for "investment" in youth

ABIDJAN, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The 5th African Union-European Union Summit started on Wednesday in Abidjan, economic capital of Cote d'Ivoire, with "investing in youth for a sustainable future" as its theme.

Leaders of dozens of European and African nations attended the summit, which takes place as Africa tries to tame high youth unemployment while Europe seeks relief from its migrant crisis and frequent terror attacks.

The meeting will discuss how to create jobs and enhance economic opportunities for Africa's young population, as Europe hopes to see African youths securing jobs in their home countries, thus shunning illegal immigration and terrorist recruitment.

Other partnership priorities to be discussed at the two-day forum include peace and security, governance, investment and trade, and job creation.

Africa has 60 percent of its population under the age of 25, a demographic asset that has created a huge labor pool yet to be fully utilized, due to a lack of industrialization. The ensuing high youth unemployment has fueled protests in some African countries and supplied migration to Europe. Enditem