BISSAU, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The transitional government of Guinea-Bissau and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Wednesday signed an agreement for the establishment of the bloc's Regional Animal Health Center in Bissau.

The agreement sets out the legal and institutional framework for hosting the center in Guinea-Bissau, in a move to strengthen regional cooperation and food security.

The signing ceremony was attended by Guinea-Bissau's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities Joao Bernardo Vieira and ECOWAS Resident Representative in Guinea-Bissau Ngozi Ukaeje.

Vieira told reporters that the establishment of the regional animal health center in Bissau marked a strategic step for the country, reinforcing its role as host to a specialized ECOWAS agency.

"By hosting this reference infrastructure, Guinea-Bissau asserts itself not only as a geographic point on the regional map, but also as a pillar in West Africa's health resilience architecture," Vieira said.

According to the document, the initiative forms part of a shared vision to promote regional integration, health resilience and sustainable development among member states.

The center will be tasked with coordinating strategies to prevent and combat transboundary animal diseases, which pose a persistent threat to the livelihoods of millions of livestock breeders and to the regional economy.

Ukaeje said the selection of Guinea-Bissau reflected ECOWAS' confidence in the country and highlighted the significance of the agreement for harmonizing animal health policies across the region.

"This center will be essential to ensuring food and health security by protecting livestock and, consequently, the communities that depend on them," she said. ■