Chairman of the African Union Commission Alpha Oumar Konare (Front) arrives in Beijing on Nov. 1, 2006. Konare is in Beijing to attend the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled for Nov. 4-5. -Xinhua

African Union (AU) Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare arrived in Beijing this morning to attend the Beijing Summit of the Forum on the China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled for Nov. 4-5.

Konare, former President of Mali, was elected AU Commission Chairman at the AU summit in Mozambique in 2003.

With 53 members, the AU is the largest political entity in Africa that seeks to combine politics, economy, military affairs and culture as one, aiming to unify currency and achieve free transit of personnel and goods.

Heads of state or government from more than 40 African countries have confirmed their attendance to the upcoming Beijing Summit.

Representatives from more than 20 organizations of the United Nations and African organizations have also been invited.