African Union Opens New Headquarters Funded By China

Jia Qinglin (5th from the left), chairman of China's People's Political Consultative Conference, hands over a symbolic key to the new, China-financed, $200 million African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on January 28.

African Union leaders have inaugurated a new $200 million headquarters that was funded by China as a gift.

The Chinese government fully financed the construction of the 20-story tower overlooking a conference center in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa.

It took three years to build.

China's top political adviser, Jiao Qinglan, said the gift is a "symbol of deepening relations."

He said China is Africa's largest commercial partner and Chinese investment there amounts to $13 billion.

The inauguration came as the African Union opened a two-day summit at the new headquarters.

compiled from agency reports