ADDIS ABABA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) and the United States have discussed ways of strengthening their partnership.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, on Thursday met and held talks with the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, at the headquarters of the pan-African bloc in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

After their meeting, the two officials told the press that they have discussed ways of strengthening partnership between Africa and the U.S. in trade, peace and security, health, fight against corruption and illicit financial flow.

Tillerson has appreciated the efforts and role the AU plays in economic regional integration of Africa and ensuring peace and stability on the continent, as well as strengthening the African Center for Disease control, on which he said U.S. is keen to forge closer collaboration.