In Brest, ForMin Aurescu addresses EU-China relations, recent developments in Mali

Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu on Friday attended the second day of the informal Gymnich-type meeting of EU foreign ministers organised by the European External Action Service and the French Presidency of the Council of the EU.The agenda included EU-China relations and recent developments in Mali, with the EU foreign ministers attending a working lunch with representatives of the African Union leadership, according to a press statement released by the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE).The main topic was the preparations for the EU-African Union Summit, scheduled for February 17-18.Regarding the debate on EU-China relations, Aurescu pointed out that the EU's multi-faceted approach in the joint communication "EU-China: A Strategic Outlook" of March 2019 is still largely valid and emphasised the importance of the EU's standing on the fundamental values of international law, democracy and human rights.Aurescu reiterated the importance of the unity of the member states and voiced solidarity with Lithuania and support for the continuation of coordination with partners, such as the US and Asian countries that share the same values and objectives with Romania. He also expressed his support for the implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy as soon as possible. He pointed out that there may be openness to co-operation with China under a framework agreed by the EU in areas such as climate change, biodiversity, response to the COVID-19 pandemic and international affairs of common interest, such as the Iranian nuclear file and Afghanistan.Developments in Mali were addressed considering an extraordinary summit of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), held in Accra on January 9, that decided to keep in place sanctions on Mali's transitional authorities. Aurescu expressed support for the adoption of targeted sanctions against those who hinder the democratic transition in Mali, in addition to the measures adopted in December 2021. He also underscored the need to carefully analyse the impact of possible economic sanctions in order not to undermine the European Union support for the civil and political transition and the fight against terrorism.At an informal lunch with representatives of the African Union (AU), the foreign minister of Senegal, the country to hold the chairmanship of the African Union in 2022-2023, and the chairman of the African Union Commission, the EU foreign ministers discussed how to strengthen EU-AU strategic links based on common priorities such as prosperity, security and mobility, and in preparation for the February 2022 EU-AU Summit.The head of the Romanian diplomacy also voiced Romania's support for the development of the EU-Africa partnership in a strategic way, with an emphasis on concrete initiatives and substantial results, to the benefit of both continents. Aurescu unveiled Romania's priorities for the African continent, with an emphasis on education and training, sustainable agriculture / food security, peace and security, combatting misinformation, healthcare, and disaster management. He pointed out that education is one of the most effective tools for a sustainable social and economic recovery, including amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as for building societal resilience and tackling the challenges facing Africa.