China on Tuesday called on the international community, including the United Nations, to continue its support for peace and development of Africa.
Speaking at a meeting on cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union (AU), Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said the partnership between the United Nations and the AU serves as a model for multilateral cooperation.
"African countries need the continued support of the United Nations and the international community as they work to silence the guns and explore the paths to modernization suited to their own national conditions. The international community should support Africa in resolving issues in the African way. China is willing to continue working with all parties to support strengthened cooperation between the United Nations and the AU with concrete actions and help Africa better achieve peace and development," said Fu.
The international community should always place development at the center of cooperation between the United Nations and the AU, thereby eliminating the root causes of conflict. It is essential to enhance Africa's representation and voice in international affairs and eliminate the negative impact of the lingering legacy of colonialism on Africa, said the Chinese envoy.
China urges int'l community to continue support for Africa's peace, development
Administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Alexander De Croo has expressed concern regarding Tuesday's drone attacks on two merchant ships in the Black Sea off the coast of Bulgaria, citing global food insecurity, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at a daily press briefing.
At around 15:00 on Tuesday, the two merchant ships were attacked with sea and air drones around 70 nautical miles east of the town of Byala in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said at the beginning of a meeting with representatives of the Bulgarian institutions.
The first ship, flying the flag of Togo, has sunk, while the second one, loaded with wheat, was on fire, Radev said, adding the 18-member crew on the second ship managed to evacuate and was rescued.
"The UN Administrator for the UNDP, Alexander De Croo, expressed concern on today's attacks on grain-carrying vessels in the Black Sea, stressing that the Black Sea is a vital route for global food supplies. Noting that these attacks violate international law and endanger crews, the administrator warned that the consequences of these attacks reach far beyond the region, deepening food insecurity and undermining development where millions already face hunger, stressing that the world's most vulnerable must not pay the price and food must never be a target," Dujarric said.
The UNDP will publish a detailed policy brief this week that looks into the development impact of the compounding crisis, the spokesman added.
On the same day, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a social media post that the situation in the Black Sea is increasingly concerning.
Noting commercial ships and innocent crews are being targeted, she stressed that attacks on civilian shipping are unacceptable.
UN voices food security concern after drones attack two merchant ships in Black Sea
