UNITED NATIONS, May 6 -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat on Monday welcomed the strong cooperation and collaboration between the two organizations.
The two leaders welcomed particularly the cooperation in the implementation of both the "UN-AU Joint Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security" and the "AU-UN Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," according to a joint communique issued after the Third African Union-United Nations Annual Conference, held at the UN headquarters in New York.
They expressed their commitment to continue to deepen the strategic partnership between the two organizations "in addressing peace and security issues and achieving sustainable development issues" in Africa through a more integrated approach.
"Continued collaboration for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and other related instruments, including the Free Movement Protocol and the Single African Air Transport Market, was discussed, notably in view of their significant potential to boost regional integration, strengthen inclusive economic growth, generate jobs for young Africans, alleviate poverty and lead to more stable and peaceful societies," said the joint communique.
They emphasized the importance of taking decisive and immediate action on climate change, and underlined the urgency of the issue and the need for a significant boost in political will, it said.
The two leaders called for robust action by the international community "to address the root causes of crises, and alleviate the humanitarian crises and risks, as well as to strengthen resilience in vulnerable communities."
The two agreed to convene the Fourth AU-UN Annual Conference in Addis Ababa in 2020. They also agreed to meet on the margins of the UN General Assembly and AU Summit to take stock of progress in the partnership between the two organizations.