Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

The debate was under the chair of President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa. In his remarks, Minh spoke highly of Africa’s efforts and the role of the AU and sub-regional organisations in promoting regional integration and socio-economic development over the recent past. The Vietnamese official affirmed that the UN-AU cooperation serves as an important framework for the implementation of security and peace initiatives in the region, via the utilisation of international support and expertise, as well as the role of regional mechanisms like the AU, which help prevent and address conflicts in Africa.

He suggested bolster the UN-AU cooperation, which are to enhance the coordinating role of the AU in handling regional conflicts and to elevate the AU-UN strategic partnership. Minh said it’s necessary to expand inter-regional cooperation, and underlined the sound traditional friendship between Vietnam and African nations. Minh said Vietnam always stands ready to actively contribute to the cooperation process in an endeavour to strengthen the ASEAN-AU partnership in the coming time, for the common benefits of Asia and Africa.