Xi proposes to advance Ethio-China ties

Addis Ababa, May 12, 2017 (FBC) –Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn arrived in Beijing today to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation scheduled to take place on May 14 and 15.

The Premier was warmly welcomed by high-level Chinese government officials and staff of Ethiopian Embassy in Beijing.

Later, the Premier held discussions with President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang of China on bilateral issues.

Chinese President on the occasion called on China and Ethiopia to elevate bilateral relations into a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.

Xi said the cooperation between China and Ethiopia plays a leading role in China-Africa cooperation.

He proposed the upgrading of bilateral ties to reflect the “strategic aspect and the high level of political mutual trust of the bilateral relations”.

Xi asked the two countries to promote cooperation in such areas as connectivity, production capacity, trade and economy, people-to-people exchanges, as well as aviation.

He said China welcomes Ethiopia’s participation in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and supports its role as a bridge between the Belt and Road Initiative and Africa’s development.

China is willing to deepen all-round cooperation with Ethiopia, a highly influential nation in Africa, in the process of implementing the outcomes of the Johannesburg summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and building the Belt and Road, Xi said.

Hailemariam said Ethiopia and China have achieved significant improvements in cooperation in areas including trade and economy, investment, industrial capacity and infrastructure construction.

The Belt and Road Initiative is a farsighted initiative with global implications, which will promote connectivity and cooperation in trade and investment.

Ethiopia will actively join in the construction of the Belt and Road, he said.

Prime Minister Hailemariam is expected to deliver a speech at the forum which will kick off on Sunday.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, over 28 governments have confirmed their presence at the event.

They will be joined by that United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, president of the World Bank Jim Yong Kim, and International Monetary Fund Director Christine Lagard.

More than 1,200 scholars, officials, media representatives and others from 110 countries and 61 international organizations have also confirmed their presence at the forum.

The main events of the forum include leaders’ roundtable summit and a high-level conference.

The theme of the forum is “Strengthening International Cooperation and Co-building the ‘Belt and Road’ for Win-win Development.”