File photo taken on Jan. 2, 2017 shows the scene of a suicide attack in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia. At least two people were killed and several others injured in the attack by extremist group Al-Shabaab near the base of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and a luxury hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu. (Xinhua/Faisal Isse)

ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) and Russia have agreed to support the AU-led initiatives to resolve conflicts and address the threat of terrorism and transnational crime.

The agreement was made during a recent meeting between AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Smail Chergui and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, according to a statement from the pan-African bloc late Friday.

Chergui and Lavrov have discussed a range of security and political developments in the region and agreed on the need to support AU-led initiatives to resolve conflicts and address the threat of terrorism and transnational crime.

The two officials have also stressed the need to preserve and uphold the principles of multilateralism in dealing with regional and global affairs.

The two-day visit of the AU Commissioner to Moscow comes within the framework of the growing partnership between the AU and Russia, and in preparation for a high-level strategic dialogue to take place in early 2018 in Addis Ababa, according to the statement.

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