TRIPOLI, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Libya and the African Union (AU) on Thursday inaugurated the AU Liaison Office in the Libyan capital Tripoli, aiming to strengthen cooperation and communication between the two sides.
The premises were opened by El-Taher Salem El-Baour, acting Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who is on an official visit to Libya.
Before the opening ceremony, the two sides held talks at the headquarters of the Libyan foreign ministry on Libya-AU relations, cooperation across various fields, continental developments, regional and international issues of mutual interest, as well as coordination at multilateral forums, the Libyan foreign ministry said in a statement.
They discussed preparations for Libya to host a meeting of the Committee of Ten (C10) on UN Security Council reform in Tripoli on Oct. 10 and 11, and the 4th Africa-Türkiye Summit in Tripoli on Dec. 8 and 9, according to the ministry.
Both sides stressed the importance of continuing consultations and coordination to strengthen the Libya-AU partnership and advance Africa's interests and its presence on the international stage, the ministry said.
According to the ministry, the liaison office will provide an institutional framework for direct communication with the AU Commission, facilitate follow-up on shared issues, and help coordinate programs and initiatives between Libyan institutions and AU bodies. ■