The 11th African Union (AU) Summit opened in the Egyptian Red Sea resort on Monday, with peace and security in Africa, the current food crisis as well as the political situation in Zimbabwe topping the agenda.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the AU Summit, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Monday called on the international communities and institutions to shoulder responsibility to overcome global food crisis through sincere and constructive dialogue as well as collective actions.
Africa is "one of the most affected part of the world" by the global food crisis, energy prices hike and climate change, Mubarak said.
The Egyptian president also highlighted the importance of the partnership between the AU and international institutions, as the continent are still facing many challenges.
He reiterated African countries' commitment to respect of democratization, reform and economic development to improve agriculture, industry and services.
He also underlined Egyptian efforts to boost cooperation between the AU Peace and Security Council and UN Security Council.
Under the theme of "Meeting the Millennium Development Goals on Water and Sanitation," the two-day AU Summit attracts heads of state and government or representatives of 53 AU members as well as the European Union (EU), Asian and Latin American delegates as observers.
For his part, AU Commission Chairperson Jean Ping pledged efforts to successfully implement programs designed to step up agricultural production and productivity in member nations, as well as Africa's Comprehensive Agricultural Development Program adopted in Maputo, Mozambique in July 2003.
He also called for endeavors to speed up the economic integration of the African continent, and the establishment of modern and efficient infrastructures in Africa.
"Peace and security are indispensable for the efforts we are making to overcome the multiple socioeconomic challenges confronting us," Ping said, referring to the conflicts in Somalia, Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
He called on African countries to show greater determination and political will to solve the problems, and assume their responsibilities to help Zimbabwe end the current political crisis.
Zimbabwe held a presidential run-off election on Friday as scheduled despite opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's withdrawal from the race.
Meanwhile, the AU Commission chairperson also urged to promote Afro-Arab cooperation, which was echoed by Arab League (AL) Secretary General Amr Moussa.
For her part, UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha Rose Migiro underlined the importance of UN-AU cooperation, and Africa's efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals, including targets on Water and sanitation.
She reiterated the UN commitment to supporting AU's efforts to build peace and prosperity on the continent.
Moreover, AU Chairman and Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete urged for efforts to promote peace and security and address all kinds of challenges in Africa, as well as cooperation of the international community to solve the Zimbabwean problem.
The AU, which is headquartered in Addis Ababa, has 53 members. Morocco is the only African country that is not a member.
The bloc was founded in July 2002 to replace the Organization for African Unity established in 1963, aiming at promoting cooperation, development and integration on the African continent.
Source:Xinhua
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