Ambassador Javier Niño Perez on CNN International stage

In the event’s opening panel called “Alliances That Scale”, EU Ambassador to the AU reaffirmed that it is time to give Africa’s legitimate voice in the global arena. “Our message today is a hopeful one from Europe,” he told CNN’s Anchor Zain Asher that moderated this conversation between him and Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, Egypt. “We need to give Africa its rightful place in the world, on trade, on investment, on international, for Africa as a member of the G20. Let’s continue that way, let’s go all the way to the Security Council. Let’s give Africa a chance.”, added Ambassador Niño Perez.

The discussion on the continent’s economic partnerships allowed him to reaffirm the large scope and depth of the EU investment in the continent. He specified how “we are going to Luanda, for the AU-EU Summit, with a common understanding on the need how to promote prosperity and stability in Africa. It needs to be done via effective multilateralism, by advancing regional integration and by placing social justice as AU-EU partnership’s overarching aim”.

CNN 2025

The other EU presence was Nadia Calviño, president of the European Investment Bank, that spoke at the panel “Time to turbocharge innovation” moderated by CNN’s Richard Quest, on how best to fuel innovation and entrepreneurship. “We’re very strongly committed to Africa,” said EIB president, announcing it has signed an agreement with MedAccess on African vaccine production. “That’s putting our money where our mouth is,” she added. “Leaders in Africa want win-win partnerships based on respect,” added Calvino, and the EIB is ready to respond.

The event was opened by CNN’s Chairman & CEO Sir Mark Thompson and consisted of sessions with high profile political and business leaders, innovators and thought-leaders. Sessions were curated and moderated by CNN journalists including Christiane Amanpour, Richard Quest, Zain Asher, Jim Sciutto, and Larry Madowo. With this edition, which took place in London on 3 November, CNN launched a new events franchise called “Global Perspectives” to convene leaders and visionaries to tackle the world’s emerging challenges and showcase opportunities for action. This first edition “Global Perspectives: On Africa” focused on Africa, a continent increasingly seen as a leading indicator of global change. Set to represent a quarter of the world’s population by 2050, Africa is home to fast-growing economies and a rising generation of talent. It uncovered how the continent plays a critical role in the world’s new partnerships, new innovations, and new markets that will shape the next era of global growth. Future editions of Global Perspectives will focus on different regions, sectors and industries.