African summit to open in Abuja, focusing on food security

The African Union (AU) committee of permanent representatives held a meeting Monday afternoon in Nigerian capital Abuja, in a buildup to the summit of heads of state from the world's most impoverished continent that will focuson food security.

The two-day meeting of the committee, made up of AU ambassadors,is to be followed by another two-day meeting of the AU executive council of foreign ministers which comes up Thursday, according todraft agendas of the pan-African body.

The summit is scheduled for January 30-31.

Food security and the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and polio in Africa are expected to top the agendas.

Also to be discussed are the problems of conflicts devastating parts of the continent as well as foreign aid toward African development.

A statement from the AU Public Affairs Department said that allthe heads of the 53 AU members have signified their intention to attend.

Many observers say the summit may turn out be a rare full session in the history of the AU, which was created three years ago.

Source: Xinhua