Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Beijing on Tuesday. The Ethiopian prime minister is in China’s capital to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and pay an official visit to the country.
The two countries issued a joint statement on establishing an all-weather strategic partnership on Tuesday.
Xi said over the past decade, the Belt and Road cooperation between China and Ethiopia has been at the forefront of China-Africa cooperation in terms of cooperation fields and results.
The two sides should take the establishment of the all-weather strategic partnership as an opportunity to advance common development and win-win cooperation, promote South-South solidarity and cooperation, and safeguard international equity and justice, said Xi.
Xi said China supports Ethiopia in safeguarding its sovereignty, safety and development interests. He said both sides should continue to strengthen cooperation and support each other in issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns.
China is willing to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with Ethiopia in frameworks including Belt and Road cooperation, Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and supports Ethiopia’s post-conflict reconstruction and economic revitalization, said Xi.
Noting that Ethiopia is a strong power in marathons, he said China is willing to work with Ethiopia to uphold the spirit of marathons and jointly build a global community with a shared future.
Abiy Ahmed said China is an important partner of Ethiopia. He said China’s investment and Belt and Road cooperation have promoted Ethiopia’s economic and social development.
Further strengthening the bilateral ties is not only crucial to Ethiopia but also significant to South-South cooperation, he noted.
Ethiopia is ready to promote Belt and Road cooperation with China, cooperate more closely in key areas and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in Ethiopia, he said.
The Ethiopian prime minister also lauded the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by Xi, saying that his country will cooperate with China closely to promote the implementation of the initiatives.
