China and Ethiopia reaffirmed their robust bilateral relations during the Ethiopia-China Economic and Trade Forum held on Monday in Addis Ababa. This forum precedes the upcoming China International Supply Chain Expo, scheduled for July 16-20.
Officials from both nations highlighted the deepening cooperation across various sectors, marking Ethiopia as a pioneering African nation to embrace China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Negus Kebede, the director-general of Middle Eastern, Asian, and Pacific affairs at the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the transformative economic journey Ethiopia is undergoing.
“Ethiopia is undergoing an economic transformation, opening vast investment opportunities across multiple sectors,” Kebede stated. “Our all-weather strategic partnership with China has been instrumental in unlocking significant economic potential, and we are eager to deepen our collaboration in key economic sectors.”
Kebede further noted that the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation serves as a vital platform for reinforcing the commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind, a vision being realized through practical cooperation and action-oriented initiatives.
Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Chen Hai, echoed these sentiments, highlighting Ethiopia’s recent membership in the BRICS mechanism as a catalyst for enhanced economic development and new avenues for cooperation. He remarked, “In recent years, the economic and trade cooperation between China and Ethiopia has been further expanded and deepened under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Our two countries are highly complementary in cooperation in industry, agriculture, mining, infrastructure, and other fields.”
Vice Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Chen Jian’an, acknowledged Ethiopia’s active role in promoting the BRI, expressing China’s commitment to strengthening policy alignment and substantial cooperation in infrastructure construction, industrial park development, and agricultural modernization.
“China will carry out more promotional activities to help Ethiopian high-quality products further enter the Chinese market,” Chen stated. “At the same time, China will encourage its companies to export high-value-added products, such as new energy technologies and manufacturing equipment, to Ethiopia to assist in the country’s economic transformation and industrial development.”
As both nations look to the future, their partnership is poised to unlock further economic potential, fostering growth and development that could benefit not only Ethiopia but the broader African continent.
