The UN chief will advocate for building new partnerships between the United Nations and the African Union, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterress on Wednesday.

Dujarric said at the daily news briefing that the Secretary-General will leave New York Friday for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to participate in the 28th Summit of the African Union.

"The Secretary-General's message to the African Union will be on building new partnerships between the United Nations and the AU based on respect and solidarity, and focusing on issues around the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063 for Africa," he said.

Guterress is expected to have a number of bilateral meetings with heads of states and governments also attending the summit, said Dujarric, adding that the UN chief will hold a town hall meeting with UN staff working in Ethiopia while in Addis.

source: Xinhua