The 4th Africa-Arab World Summit meeting opened on Wednesday in Equatorial Guinean capital Malabo with around 60 leaders from the two regions participating.

Under the theme "Together for sustainable development and economic cooperation," this year's summit focused on the "assessment of the progress achieved in the implementation of the action plan" adopted in the 3rd summit held in Kuwait in 2013, according to reports from Malabo.

The discussions also focused on "ways likely to deepen this cooperation framework at a time when Africa and the Arab world are working to collectively take up the common challenges they are facing."

Equatorial Guinean President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo said while hosting the summit that there are many things in common between Africa and Arab countries, like history, culture and religion, etc. He hoped Africa can emerge and increase its position in international arena. He asked the Arab countries to help Africa emerge by providing avanced technologies.

General-Secretary of Arab League Ahmed Abou EL Gheit said the security situation in Africa is related with the security situation in Arab region, and hoped the two regions strenghthen the cooperation in the concerned areas.

At the summit, African Union President Nkosazama Dlamini Zuma called the youth in the two regions to promote their communication and cooperation in order to face the challenges of the new era.

The Africa-Arab Summit is the supreme policy organ of the Africa-Arab Partnership. It adopts the long and short term action plan and strategies of the partnership. The first Africa-Arab summit was held in Cairo, Egypt, in 1977, since 2010, the summit is held every 3 years alternatively in African and Arab countries, with the second one held in Libya, and the third in Kuwait.