THE African Union has called on new Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang to support its push for a permanent seat on the United Nations security council.

However, Mr Qin, who was appointed last month, made no direct reference to the bloc gaining permanent representation on the UN council when he spoke the opening of the Chinese-built headquarters of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.

In a statement released on Thursday, Mr Qin emphasised China’s partnership with Africa in security and economic development and said that Beijing supported the African Union’s “greater representation and voice at the UN security council and other international organisations.”