In Addis Ababa on December 4, 2025, high-level officials and experts from China, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations gathered at the AU headquarters to urge deeper cooperation between China and Africa on peace and shared security. The International Seminar on “Working Together to Build Common Security: China and Africa in Action” focused on how coordinated strategies can address transnational challenges and create a safer, more stable continent.
Hosted jointly by the Chinese Mission to the African Union, the AU Commission and the UN Office to the AU, the event drew more than 100 representatives from AU member states, UN agencies, civil-society organisations and academic think tanks. Participants discussed the China-initiated Global Security Initiative (GSI) – a framework that champions peaceful resolution of disputes, respect for sovereignty, and inclusive security cooperation – as a platform for tackling complex threats that transcend borders.
Wang Lixin, Director-General of the Department of Security Cooperation at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Beijing stands as “a steadfast companion to Africa” in supporting peace, modernisation and security. China’s role in UN peacekeeping missions – with over 2,000 Chinese personnel deployed from Mali to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan -underlines its long-term commitment.
Moussa Mohamed Omar, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Cabinet Office of the AU Commission Chairperson, highlighted how modern threats such as terrorism, transnational crime, illicit weapons flows and climate-induced instability cannot be handled by any one country alone. He stressed that the principles of the GSI resonate with African approaches like “African solutions to African problems,” which uphold sovereignty and collective security.
The event also featured insights from the UN, with Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to the AU, welcoming the GSI as a contribution to strengthening multilateralism and improving global security governance
China-Africa cooperation on security is evolving alongside their broader partnership, which spans economic development, infrastructure, health, education and cultural exchange. Under frameworks like the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), both sides have pledged to advance peace and shared development – recognizing that political stability and security underpin economic progress and people-centred prosperity.
As both China and African nations look to address modern security challenges – from climate-linked displacement to cross-border crime, this seminar reflects a shared commitment to cooperative frameworks that uphold sovereignty, collective responsibility and inclusive governance. The outcome signals not just strategic alignment, but a deeper vision for peace that supports long-term development and shared prosperity across the continent and beyond.
