The 18th African Union (AU) summit opened on Sunday here in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, as African leaders gathered with the theme of "Boosting Intra-African Trade."

The summit is set to elect new members of the AU Commission (AUC), namely, the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and the eight Commissioners. The current AUC members are coming to the end of its four year mandate in January 2012.

AUC Chairman Jean Ping, addressing the opening ceremony, said that Africa needs to continue to strengthen its peace and security. He noted that there are still outside interferences into African internal affairs, which must be avoided.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called for establishing a peaceful world with sustainable development, respecting the rights of women and children, and dealing with climate change.

Ban also expressed his gratitude to China for funding the new AU Conference Center.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Haitian President Michel Martelly, Tunisian President Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Rahim Al-Keab, and Equatorial Guinean President and AU Chairman Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo also attended the opening ceremony.