Damascus, June 3 (SANA) The Diplomatic Institute at the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, in cooperation with the African Union, organized a lecture on Wednesday, in celebration of Africa Day, entitled “The African Continent and the African Union; Between Present Challenges and Future Prospects.”
The lecture was held at the Ministry building in Damascus, and was attended by a number of ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions.
Participants in the lecture that comprised Mohammad Said, Director of the Partnerships and Diplomatic Cooperation Department at the Diplomatic Institute, Ashraf Youssef Suleiman, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa in Damascus, Al Taleb Mokhtar Cheikh Mohamed El-Mokhtar, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania in Damascus; and Khaled Mohammed Ali Hassan, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Sudan in Damascus.
The lecture focused on the situation of the African continent and the challenges facing the member states of the African Union at present.
The Participants also discussed prospects for cooperation between Syria and African Union’s member states in several shared areas, noting the importance of the African role at the political and diplomatic levels amidst rapid international transformations, particularly in education, the economy, culture, training, and capacity building.
In a statement to the media, Director of the Partnerships and Diplomatic Cooperation Department at the Diplomatic Institute, Mohammad Said affirmed that the celebration of Africa Day underscores the importance of the African continent as a key partner in international relations and the deep ties that bind Syria to African countries.
He noted that the Diplomatic Institute seeks to expand cooperation with African diplomatic institutions, exchange expertise and knowledge, and build capacities, thereby contributing to strengthening relations between peoples.

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