Germany and Africa have agreed in Abuja, Nigeria's capital city to break barriers militating against partnership between them and to enter into cooperation in various areas, reported the Channel TV on Monday.
German President Horst Koehler said at a news conference to mark the end of the 4th German-African Forum that the two sides have agreed on mutual policies that would tackle the various issues.
Koehler said this forum is a process of creating truth among both parties and differences in opinion have been taken in trust, expressing the hope that the thrust will continue.
The German president said that there is the need for peace to reign in Africa as well as a clear attempt to curb illegal trading which he said has constituted a major problem in Africa.
He expressed appreciation the leadership efforts of Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua in Africa and urged Western powers to support structures that will help sustain peace efforts on the continent.
"It is a good principle that both sides stand on the principle of democracy and rule of law as it enshrined even in the African Peer Review Mechanism," he said.
"Africa should have its right to its structures and all principles and foundations of the leaders' objectives should not be influenced by the European definition of ideas," he said.
Koehler added that lack of economic development, education and investment has made unemployment of youths very common in the African region, and called for the entrenchment of standards and ethics.
He said there is the need for long-term projects to take precedence over short-term ones in the region and called for adequate and rich information.
The German president blamed the media for the degree of negative information about the African region and urged practitioners to help to send reports that will give appropriate picture of the region.