ADDIS ABABA, March 9 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) and Russia have vowed to further strengthen their partnership in pursuing the shared goals of global peace, security, stability and development.
This came on Friday during a meeting between Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the AU Commission, and Sergey Lavrov, foreign minister of Russia, at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.
The two officials have exchanged views on issues such as conflicts and crisis situations on the African continent, according to a joint communique issued on Friday.
The two sides agreed to intensify cooperation in fighting terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime through exchange of experience, information and capacity-building.
They will also step up collaboration in such areas as education, science and technology, including the establishment of partnerships between the Pan-African University Institutes and Russian universities and other academic institutions, scholarships and training in science and mathematics, space science and the peaceful applications of nuclear sciences and technology.
The two sides agreed to convene an annual high-level dialogue to be held alternately in Addis Ababa and Moscow.
The AU commission chairperson and the Russian foreign minister underscored the importance and leading role of multilateral institutions such as the United Nations and the AU, as instruments to address the multifaceted and interconnected challenges confronting the international community.
Lavrov reaffirmed that the Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, will continue its constant support of AU, its initiatives and peacekeeping efforts aimed at resolving crises and conflict situations in Africa, the communique said.
While welcoming Russia's support to AU's positions in the Security Council, the chairperson of the AU Commission underlined the need for the UN to take the steps required to ensure the sustainable and predictable financing of African-led peace support operations undertaken with the consent of the Security Council.
He has also underlined the urgency for adequate support for the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and for the G5 Sahel Joint Force.
The Russian side reiterated its readiness to share with the relevant AU institutions, notably the African Center on the Study and Research on Terrorism, its list of foreign terrorists so that it could be availed to AU member states, to further assist them in the fight against terrorism, according to the communique.
Lavrov also conveyed Russia's wish to be granted an observer status with the AU Mechanism for Police Cooperation, according to AU.