Opening Remarks at the 1st Meeting of Group of African Ambassadors Corps (GAAC)
African Union, Beijing
H.E. Ambassador Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, PhD
AU Permanent Representative to the People’s Republic of China
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23 March 2026
Your Excellency Martin Mpana, Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon to China and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in China Your Excellency Telesphore Irambona, Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi to China and Chair of the African Union for 2026 Your Excellency, Mr. Cyprien Mamina, Ambassador of the Republic of Congo and Co-Chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Distinguished African Ambassadors accredited to the People’s Republic of China Diplomats from the various African Embassies in Beijing Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the premises of the AU Permanent Mission to China, your headquarters in Beijing. I am delighted that we are meeting here at Africa House for the first time since my assumption of duty in September 2025.
From the outset, I wish to convey the fraternal greetings of H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission who is looking forward to meeting and interacting with all of you during his planned official visit to China during the second quarter of this year.
I would to fully acknowledge and commend the pioneering work and legacy of my predecessor, Ambassador Rahamtalla Mohamed Osman, the first African Union Permanent Representative to China.
I would like to thank my dear brother, the Dean and all of you for warmly welcoming me to the very robust Group of African Ambassadors in China (GAAC). I have observed since my arrival in Beijing, that the GAAC, under the able leadership of the Dean, is a formidable force in China. It is the only group in China that can boast of a membership of 53 sovereign nations in all their might and glory. Excellencies you will agree with me that there is power in numbers, and we must therefore as a matter of strategic pivot, and in the interest of fostering the goals of Agenda 2063, harness our collective power to ensure a win-win partnership with China.
Excellencies, I would also like to commend all of you for your wisdom and proactive engagement during last December’s strategic reflection session on enhancing synergy and alignment between Agenda 2063 and FOCAC Commitments. The deliberations and conclusions of that meeting have been captured in a comprehensive report that will be shared with you today.
Excellencies, there are two significant events that have taken place at the AU since my assumption of duty in September 2025 that I would like to share with you.
First, is the visit of His Excellency Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China to the AU Headquarters on 8 January 2026. This visit is part of a long-standing tradition by China whereby the country’s Foreign Minister’s first foreign trip in the new year is to Africa. This year marks the 36th year of this practice, and the first time that a visit to the AU Headquarters was included in this good-will diplomatic engagement. The Minister’s visit was marked by two key separate but interrelated engagements, namely, the 9th China-African Union Strategic Dialogue and the launching ceremony of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-people Exchanges. The flagging off of this year’s People-to People Exchanges was witnessed by four high-level leaders, namely, H.E. Taye Atske Selassie, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Jean Claude Gakosso, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Congo and Co-Chair of FOCAC and His Excellency Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
During the 9th China-African Union Dialogue which was co-chaired by Chairperson Youssouf and Minister Wang both sides reaffirmed the imperative of upholding a global order based on international law and respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Their deliberations also focused on efforts to advance modernization, global governance, zero-tariff treatment, health and pharmaceuticals, the International Organization for Mediation and the outlook for peace and development in Africa. In concrete terms, they agreed amongst other things on:
1. Strengthening strategic cooperation to foster a collective Sino-African response to global developments.
2. FOCAC to continue to serve as the main framework for China-Africa partnership.
3. The establishment of a China-Africa Joint Trade and Economic Commission.
4. China to support the operationalization of the Africa Medicines Agency (AMA) and the development of local manufacturing in the area of pharmaceuticals.
5. CIDCA to continue providing training support to African Member states.
The second development is the convening of the 39th Assembly of Heads of States and Government at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 14-15 February 2026,
One of the key highlights of the Summit was the handing over of the leadership of the Union from H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola to H.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi. I would like on behalf of the Chairperson of the Commission to congratulate the Republic of Angola for a successful mandate and the Republic of Burundi for assuming the leadership of the continent. I wish to reaffirm the AU Commission’s support to the Republic of Burundi during its stewardship of the Union.
Excellencies, another key highlight of the Summit was the endorsement by African leaders of the theme year titled: Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems. This year’s theme underscores the importance of water towards achieving the goals of Agenda 2063.
The Africa Water Vision 2063 and Policy which underpins this year’s theme, establishes a shared continental direction in five key areas, namely to:
1. Secure sustainable water availability
2. Ensure safe sanitation systems for all
3. Mobilise climate-resilient investment
4. Strengthen governance and accountability
5. Advance transboundary cooperation
More broadly, Summit deliberation were centred on the following:
1. The imperative to scale up commitments to African-led peace solutions
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2. The urgency to Foster economic integration, and enhance climate action.
3. The need for increased African representation in global bodies like the UN Security Council and G20.
Excellencies closer to home here in Beijing, I am pleased to inform you that following consultations with the Dean, this year’s retreat of the GAAC will be convened on 23-24 April with a specific focus on “Leveraging China’s 100% Tariff Free Offer to Foster development and prosperity in Africa in line with Agenda 2063.” We have invited three key specialized AU agencies notably, the AU Development Agency also knowns as AUDA-NEPAD, the Secretariat of African Continental Free Trade Area and the Department of Economic, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Mining to join us for the retreat. I hope you have received the invitations as we look forward to rich and transformative ideas on how we can take full advantage of this offer to access what is perhaps the largest and most lucrative market in the world.
Excellencies, I would like to conclude by invoking your strong Pan-African spirit as we deepen our engagements with China during this very crucial period of geopolitical contests and rebalancing of the global order. Our partnership with China has a strong transformative potential, but for the potential to be actualized, we have to be deliberate, focused and act in a coordinated manner to unlock the potential. The imperative for us to act in unison is not a choice but an obligation to the millions of Africans who stand to benefit from a successful Sino-African partnership. Once again, welcome to Africa House, and I wish you fruitful deliberations this afternoon.