Addis Abeba — The Italian Secretary of State, Senator Alfredo Mantica, awarded Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the decoration of Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

The ceremony was set to take place at the headquarters of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Friday.

The award was in recognition of the chairperson's great achievements in his distinguished 35 year career in government and the international arena, marked by several diplomatic successes to restore peace and stability in Central Africa, in particular in the Republic of the Congo, Chad, Central African Republic and Sao Tomé and Principe, AU and the Italian embassy here said in a joint press release.

He served as Gabonese Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, Francophone and regional integration. He was the president of the 59th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (2004-2005).

Accordingly, the Order of Merit is the highest order of Italy.

"It recognizes distinguished achievements and services to the Italian Republic performed in the fields of arts, literature, economics, or in carrying out functions in public offices, military and civil careers and in commitment to philanthropic and humanitarian purposes."