Mr. Chen Xufeng, Charge d'Affaires ad interim of the Chinese Mission to the African Union, met with H.E. Mr. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, on 31st May, 2016 where they discussed issues of mutual interest and exchanged views on the China-African Union cooperation.
Mr. Chen and H.E. Mr. Mwencha discussed the bilateral cooperation on the three networks, industrialization and China's assistance to build African Center for Disease Control and Prevention. H.E. Mr. Mwencha lauded China's assistance and acknowledged the latest progress in the areas of cooperation, further restating his optimism for strengthened ties and cooperation in the African Union-China relations.
In his remarks to the South China Sea Island territorial and maritime disputes, H.E. Mr. Erastus Mwencha urged the disputing parties to embrace dialogue and peacefully resolve the impasse. He called on the sovereign states directly concerned to give consultations and negotiations a chance, in accordance with the international law, to maintain peace and stability of the South China Sea.
"It is important to seek peaceful means to settle the territorial and maritime jurisdictional disputes through friendly consultations and negotiations, in accordance with the provisions of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea as well as to enhance the mutual trust for peace and stability", H.E. Mr. Erastus Mwencha observed.