2.2.5 The two sides will expand and strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and parliaments of African countries, sub-regional parliaments of Africa, the Pan-African Parliament and the African Parliamentary Union. 2.2.6 The two sides will promote exchanges between the China-Africa Friendship Group of the National Committee of the CPPCC and relevant institutions and friendly personages in various organizations of African countries, the African Union and African regional organizations. 2.2.7 The two sides will deepen exchanges between the China Economic and Social Council and the AU Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSCOCC), economic and social councils of African countries and other relevant institutions. 2.2.8 The two sides will further strengthen exchanges between local governments, encourage the establishment of more sister provinces/cities relations, improve the mechanism of China-Africa Forum on Cooperation Between Local Governments, and promote deeper and more concrete China-Africa sub-national cooperation. 2.3 China, the African Union and Africa’s Sub-regional Organizations 2.3.1 The two sides recognize the important role of the African Union in safeguarding peace and stability and promoting the integration of Africa. China commends the new progress made by Africa in seeking strength through unity, and notes the important results achieved in the institutional reform of the African Union. The African side appreciates China’s efforts and contributions in promoting peace, stability and development in Africa. 2.3.2 The two sides agree to consolidate and strengthen China’s cooperation with the African Union and its affiliated institutions and Africa’s sub-regional organizations, to continue holding the China-African Union Strategic Dialogue, and to strengthen communication and coordination between China and Africa’s sub-regional organizations, so that China-Africa transnational and trans-regional cooperation will deliver more outcomes. 2.3.3 The African side commends China for supporting the African Union and Africa’s sub-regional organizations in upgrading public service facilities, improving office conditions and enhancing public service capacity. China will continue to support the capacity building of the African Union and Africa’s sub-regional organizations. 2.3.4 China notes with appreciation that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has entered the implementation stage, and will set up an expert group on economic cooperation with the secretariat of the AfCFTA, and continue to support the development of the free trade area and the Secretariat of the AfCFTA . 2.4 International Cooperation 5/36