The African Union (AU) has reaffirmed its firm commitment to the One-China principle, emphasizing that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.
This position was restated on during the 9th China–African Union Strategic Dialogue held at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa on Thursday.
The dialogue was co-chaired by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Wang Yi.
On the sidelines of the meeting, both leaders also jointly attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, an initiative aimed at strengthening cultural, social, and institutional ties between China and African countries.
During the dialogue, the two sides exchanged views on a broad range of issues, including China-Africa cooperation in advancing modernization, global governance reforms, zero-tariff treatment, the International Organization for Mediation, and the peace and development outlook in the Horn of Africa. They noted that China and the African Union, as key members of the Global South, share extensive consensus on major international and regional issues.
Both parties underscored the importance of safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South and reaffirmed their mutual support on core interests and major concerns. They stressed the need to deepen coordination and cooperation to inject positive momentum into global and regional peace, stability, and development.
The African Union explicitly reiterated its adherence to the One-China principle, affirming that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The AU further expressed firm support for all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification.
The dialogue also highlighted the shared commitment of both sides to upholding a global order based on international law, particularly respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes. In this context, both sides expressed concern over recent developments in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, reaffirming that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected in line with the United Nations Charter and international law.
On economic and development cooperation, the two sides emphasized the importance of aligning China’s 15th Five-Year Plan with the African Union’s Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063, as well as commitments under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). They agreed that such alignment would enhance joint efforts toward inclusive and sustainable modernization.
The AU and China also agreed to strengthen cooperation and mutual support for their respective flagship initiatives. On the African side, these include Agenda 2063, the “Silencing the Guns by 2030” initiative, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). On the Chinese side, cooperation will focus on the Global Security Initiative, the Global Governance Initiative, and the International Organization for Mediation.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the effective implementation of all existing cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding. They further agreed to explore the full potential of practical China–AU cooperation, with the shared objective of delivering tangible benefits to the peoples of Africa and China.
