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Foreign Minister attends African Union summit in Ethiopia
Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi is attending the 24th African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Friday, according to a Foreign Ministry statement on Saturday
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oreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi is attending the 24th African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Friday, according to a Foreign Ministry statement on Saturday.
The 24th African Union summit was held under the theme 'Women's Role in Developing Africa', and was attended by the heads of 54 member states, along with United Nations Secretary General Ban-ki Moon, UN General Assembly president Sam Kahamba Kutesa, the Arab League secretary general Nabil Elaraby, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Spanish King Felipe VI.
Retno used Indonesia's attendance at the summit to elaborate on the planned 60th anniversary of the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference, which will be held in Jakarta and Bandung in April.
'The presence of Indonesia at the African Union summit shows Indonesia's commitment to the region and its importance to it. The holding of a 60th anniversary event to mark the Asia-Africa Conference also shows Indonesia's commitment to forging closer ties between Asia and Africa, which has huge potential,' Retno said in her statement as quoted by Antara news agency.
During the summit's opening address, African Union chairwoman Nkosazana Zuma said that the spirit of unity in the 1955 conference, which managed to guide the participating countries through the challenges of that era, was still relevant for African countries in facing current global challenges.
Retno also held bilateral talks with a number of foreign ministers including those of Ethiopia, Egypt, Togo, Algeria, Kenya, Madagascar and South Africa. Aside from strengthening ties, the African nations hope that Indonesia's efforts will be more realized in the economic field, especially in the private sector.
She is the first Indonesian foreign minister to attend an African Union summit as well as the first ever Indonesian foreign minister to visit Ethiopia since bilateral ties were established in 1974. (dyl/nvn)
