AUC Chairperson in audience with US Deputy of State

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 31, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma on Thursday 30 January 2014, granted audience to US Deputy Secretary of State, William Burns who was heading the US delegation to the 22nd Assembly of Heads of State and Government holding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 30-31 January 2014.

The AU Commission Chairperson and the Deputy Secretary of State discussed issues of mutual interest aimed at strengthening their cooperation.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma highlighted investment in people, industrialisation, intra-African trade, and others, as important areas in which US partnership with Africa would help the continent to move forward. She underscored the importance of African partners taking the continent's priority areas into consideration.

Mr Burns concurred that these are areas in which President Obama takes keen interest in working with Africa to unleash its potential. He noted that these areas would be discussed further in a Summit to be held in August, to which President Obama is inviting African leaders. The US, he said, looks forward to working with the AU on peace and security in South Sudan, Central African Republic and other areas.

The AUC Chairperson also expressed gratitude to the US for its support in the airlifting of Rwandan soldiers to support the AU peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic.