The Executive Council of the African Union has pledged their support for China over the coronavirus disease that the country is currently facing.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the 36th Ordinary session meeting of , Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the AU Member States held in AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa from 6 to 7 February 2020, and was made available to CEOAFRICA.

See below the communique;

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 chalenges containing this new virus.