Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Tuesday voiced congratulations to Ethiopia on its peace agreement when jointly meeting the press with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen Hassen in Addis Ababa.

Qin Gang said that Ethiopia is the home of all Ethiopian people, including the people in Tigray and that Ethiopia has entered a new stage of looking forward to peace and focusing on development, following the ceasefire agreement reached and implemented between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.

Qin Gang said that China has always believed in the wisdom and ability of the Ethiopian people to independently resolve internal differences and that it always supports Africans in solving African problems in African ways.

The strategic position of the Horn of Africa is important and has a significant impact on the peace and stability of Africa and even the Middle East, he said. China has put forward the “Initiative of Peaceful Development in the Horn of Africa”, which aims to support countries in the region to achieve unity, self-improvement, prosperity and stability, Qin noted.

Minister Qin also said China has provided Ethiopia with multiple batches of food, vaccines and other humanitarian aid to help alleviate hardship of people in conflict-affected areas.

“We will continue to do so and will be actively involved in rebuilding conflict-affected areas. At the same time, we call on the international community to increase humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia and support the reconstruction and economic and social development,” Qin said.