UN committed to cooperation with AU to solve African problems: Guterres

Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-18 04:32:33|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday expressed commitment to working with the African Union to solve African problems.

"The United Nations believes in African leadership to solve African problems, and we are fully committed to working closely with the African Union in solidarity and respect to seize the vast potential of today's opportunities," Guterres said at the launch of Africa Dialogue Series 2018, which aims to mobilize international support for Africa' s development.

The UN chief recalled the two agreements the two organizations signed in the past 18 months -- the Framework on Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 and the UN-AU Framework on Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, affirming the two accords "are the foundations for our renewed cooperation."

He also recalled their "close and regular" consultation as well as joint visits to Africa on matters such as peace and security, saying the policies and approaches of the AU and the UN are "more closely aligned than ever before."

"The 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 have indeed many synergies. They address the same problems and they promote the same solutions," Guterres said, referring to the two development plans produced respectively by the UN and the AU.

He noted the two agendas both call for "a prosperous, peaceful and secure continent" based on human rights, good governance and the rule of law, and emphasized the inclusion of Africa's young people and the women's leadership.

Recognizing financing is critical for achieving the agendas' aims, the UN chief urged all countries to meet their commitments set in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, a 2015 agreement for financing sustainable development.

"Together with public and private actors, we must accelerate and scale up the mobilization of resources," he said.

In addition, with regard to reforms, Guterres called on the UN and the AU to align their priorities, agree on respective areas of responsibility and deepen partnership while engaging in the endeavor.

He urged working with all parties -- traditional and emerging partners, the private sector, civil society, academia, foundations and philanthropic organizations -- "to seize opportunities and build bridges."

Closing his remarks, he said the newly launched Africa Dialogue Series "provides an excellent platform to advance this effort" and that "with Africa in the lead, we will continue our work together for the good of the people of the continent and for the good of the people of the world."

The two-day Africa Dialogue Series was launched Wednesday by the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa upon the 15th anniversary of its establishment, alongside the UN General Assembly Debate on the Development of Africa on Thursday.

The series, which replaces the Africa Week held in previous years, provides a platform to explore and promote critical debates operationalizing the peace, security, human rights, humanitarian and development nexus in Africa.

In addition, it will feature special tributes to two sons of Africa, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former South African President Nelson Mandela, whose work for development, peace, security, reconciliation, human rights, and post-conflict recovery and reconstruction in Africa, have been significant in shaping the future of the continent.

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