African Union official hails depth of partnership with China

A senior legal adviser to the African Union has underscored the vital role of China-Africa solidarity in upholding the authority of international law and promoting a more just system of global governance.

In an interview with China Daily, AU Legal Counsel Hajer Gueldich emphasized the need to deepen China-Africa ties to tackle shared challenges and promote justice on the world stage.

"The partnership between the African Union and China is a model of cooperation that has already brought tangible benefits, such as the construction of the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa," the adviser said.

Gueldich expressed deep concern over the current state of international law, saying that while the rules and principles of international law, largely shaped after World War II, remain relevant, their implementation is too often marred by double standards and selective application.

"Powerful countries sometimes manipulate international law to serve their political interests, undermining its legitimacy and fairness," she said.

"The problem is not the rules themselves, but the implementation of the rules," she stressed, calling for reforms to ensure a more balanced interpretation and application of international norms.

She urged countries of the Global South to unite in defending fairness and ethics in international law for the benefit of future generations. "If we stay silent, we fail our children. Now is the time for collective action and solidarity," she warned.

Looking ahead, the adviser called for even closer China-Africa cooperation, pointing to growing alignment in areas such as cybersecurity, industrialization and infrastructure development, stressing that China's expertise can help African nations modernize and build stronger governance capacities.

Visiting China for the first time in June, Gueldich said she was deeply impressed by the country's modern infrastructure and the open-minded, modest nature of its people. She also emphasized the importance of strengthening ties in education, technology and legal scholarship.

Such exchanges, she added, can deepen mutual understanding and advance the shared goal of building a fairer international order.