Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 15 May 2017- The African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson H.E Kwesi Quartey is attending the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, which kicked off on Sunday, 14th May 2017. The two-day forum is a major international event hosted by the Chinese President Xi Jinping where about 29 Heads of State and Government are in attendance. Among them are Presidents of Russia, Turkey, Chile, Czech Republic, Kenya and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Also in attendance is UN Secretary General António Guterres, President of the World Bank Jim Yong Kim, and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde.

The Belt and Road initiative is viewed as a new way by China to enhance development aimed at expanding links between Asia, Africa and Europe through infrastructure investment in rail, road and port networks.

The African Union Commission will be seeking enhanced cooperation and mutually beneficial development under the China- Africa development programme. The African Union is keen to implement the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and increase investments in infrastructural development to boost intra-African trade and socio-economic development of the continent.

For further information, please contact:

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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