Tunisia vows on Monday to assert responsibility to represent the African continent in the UN Security Council, in a bid for a non-permanent seat for the 2020-2021 mandate, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui made the remarks at the 31st African Union summit, during which member countries approved Tunisia's candidacy for the non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

The foreign minister, who headed a Tunisian delegation to the summit in Mauritania, added that his country also benefited from the support of the Arab League.

"The support constitutes an important and decisive step towards our country's election to this position at the UN. Tunisia will represent African continent at this high international level," said Jhinaoui.

According to Jhinaoui, his country is strongly committed to the creation of an African Free Trade Area, taking into account the specificities of each country and the partnership with European Union.

Xinhua