In the opening speech at the 36th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Guterres believes that with efforts and partnerships to face all challenges, the 1.4 billion Africans will be able to achieve a fairer and more prosperous future.
He defended that all support directed towards Africa should prioritize actions in the Economy, Climate and Peace, hailing the partnership with the African Union and the "enormous potential" of the continent to be realized with the work of the regional bloc.
Highlighting the theme of the meeting: “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa”, António Guterres cited “Agenda 2063, the continent's plan of action to eliminate socio-economic ills, and the Decade of Women's Financial-Economic Inclusion. In addition, the continent is rich in natural resources and its greatest asset is the diversity of its peoples, cultures and languages”.
Another advance, according to António Guterres, is the strong focus on job creation and the "enormous potential" of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
He said it was a transformative step that opens up new sources of prosperity for all Africans, especially youth, assuming that the UN's ties with the African Union have never been stronger.
