Secretary-General's remarks to the Africa Dialogue Series 2018: 'A Stronger AU-UN Partnership for Peace, Security and Development in Africa' [as delivered].

It is a great honour to be here with you and to participate in the inaugural Africa Dialogue Series.

It is fitting that we started by paying tribute today to Nelson Mandela and Kofi Annan, two sons of Africa who continue to inspire us every day.

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr. Denis Mukwege on his well-deserved Nobel prize for peace, and also for standing up for the victims of sexual violence in conflict.

Africa today is driving its own agenda.

Across the continent, we see countries growing more prosperous and regions are becoming more integrated.

We see communities coming together to resolve problems and offer mutual support.

A new narrative is taking hold - of a continent on the move and on the rise.

The historic agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea is creating opportunities to consolidate peace across the Horn.

The departure of United Nations peacekeepers from Liberia is a sign of growing stability in West Africa.

The African Continental Free Trade Area holds great promise.

The United Nations believes in African leadership to solve African problems, and we are fully committed to working closely with the African Union in solidarity and respect to seize the vast potential of today's opportunities.

The two agreements signed in the past 18 months - the Framework on Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063, and the UN-AU Framework on Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security - are the foundations for our renewed cooperation.

We now work in close and regular consultation with the distinguished Chairperson of the African Union Commission. The Deputy Secretary-General and senior officials from the African Union have undertaken several joint visits to the continent. The same has happened for our Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations and the Commissioner for Peace and Security at the African Union.

I am proud to say today that the policies and approaches of the African Union and the United Nations are more closely aligned than ever before.

African economies are showing resilience and gaining momentum. Many are growing faster than in other regions, reflecting greater stability and efforts to improve governance.

At the same time, Africa faces fragility and a number of development challenges.

The volatility of financial markets, the looming trade conflicts, and high levels of debt in some countries are causing concern over economies that may be vulnerable to shocks.

The...