China has been playing a positive role in promoting peace and security on the African continent, said Olusegun Akinsanya, Regional Director for the Institute of Security Studies Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The regional Director on Wednesday was chairing a day-long Symposium on Sino-African Union (AU) cooperation in peace and security at Sheraton International Hotel in Addis Ababa. Akinsanya said China is positively engaged with Africa in economic development as well as in promoting peace and security. He said the Chinese troops who are standing with African troops as part of the UN hybrid African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) is a demonstration for China's engagement in peace keeping on the continent. He also stated that China has provided several trainings to peace and security departments and plays a positive role in finding solutions to peace and security in collaboration with the AU Peace and Security Council.

At the symposium researchers presented papers including topics among others on Sino-AU cooperation in peace and security, China- Africa cooperation/relations and early and current challenges, Sino-African cooperation from the perspective of cultural security, and role of AU and regional economic communities in China-Africa partnership.

The Director also indicated that there are gaps and challenges in the cooperation between the two sides.

The Director said discussions at the symposium also include the future of China-Africa relations in conflict transformation, and the comparative advantage of China's support to Africa's peace and security architecture.

The symposium which was jointly organized by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, has attracted academicians, researchers and representatives of different organizations.