In the spirit of the strong strategic partnership existing between Member States of the African Union (AU) and the People’s Republic of China and cognizant of the fraternal historical ties and cooperation between them, at the end of the deliberations of the 36th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council held at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa from 6 to 7 February 2020, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the AU Member States expressed their solidarity with the government and people of the People’s Republic of China in their efforts to counter spread of the new coronavirus and to cope with its health and social ramifications.

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of AU Member States have confidence in the ability of the Chinese authorities to deal with the challenges this epidemic poses and to take necessary measures in this regard in accordance with the internationally applied standards and procedures in coordination with the various national and international bodies concerned, particularly the World Health Organization and Africa CDC. They are confident that the Chinese authorities will work in collaboration with all countries for their common interest in dealing with the various humanitarian, social and economic challenges containing this new virus.

Addis Ababa, 7 February 2020

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