Ambassador Zhao Zhiyuan Published New Year Congratulatory Message on Ethiopian Herald
Chinese Ambassador H.E. ZHAO Zhiyuan
On the occasion of the Ethiopian New Year, I would like to extend my best wishes to the Ethiopian people and wish the lovely country prosperity, happiness and peace!
First of all, congratulations to Ethiopia on joining the BRICS! Just as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said, Ethiopia’s BRICS membership could be taken as one of the biggest diplomatic victories of the country recorded in the last few decades. China shares this joy with all member states and always stands ready to expand cooperation with Ethiopia under the BRICS framework and bring more dynamics to BRICS cooperation.
Both China and Ethiopia are countries with ancient civilizations, and the relationship between the two countries has a long history. In recent years, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, China-Ethiopia political mutual trust has been continuously enhanced, economic and trade cooperation has yielded fruitful results, people-to-people and cultural exchanges have continued to deepen. By implementing the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative together, our bilateral relations have entered into a new stage of development.
I have been a witness to China-Ethiopia Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership growing in depth and substance. China has been Ethiopia's largest trading partner, largest source of investment and largest project contractor for many years in a row. China has played an important role in promoting Ethiopia's development in fields of infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, and agriculture, and realizing the country's industrialization and modernization. China-Ethiopia cooperation has once again achieved remarkable outcomes this year. In the first half of 2023, the total bilateral trade volume increased by 28.53% on year-on-year basis. China has delivered 2242 metric tons of food aid to Ethiopia and offered zero-tariff treatment to 98 percent of the tariff line, with 8804 items of products, originating from Ethiopia. 225 students and 710 officials from Ethiopia sponsored by Chinese Government have pursed their study in China. Chinese Medical Team in Ethiopia has provided medical service to thousand of Ethiopian patients and conducted free clinic for hundreds of Ethiopian children. China Foundation for Rural Development has provided food support for 14280 Ethiopian primary school students in Afar, Oromia, Amhara, Southwest, and Somalia regional states. With high level delegations from both countries visiting each other frequently, all kinds of cooperation and communication continues to deepen.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past 10 years, the BRI has evolved from broad strokes to refined details, becoming the most popular international public good and largest-scale international cooperation platform. Adhering to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, the BRI has made fruitful achievements. Over the last decade, China has helped African countries build over 6,000 kilometers of railway, 6,000 kilometers of road, around 20 ports, over 80 large power facilities, and more than 130 hospitals and 170 schools. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the BRI, China will hold the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in October. China looks forward to advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with Ethiopia, strengthening infrastructure connectivity and developing a green and digital Silk Road. I believe our cooperation under BRI, FOCAC and BRICS will continue to make concrete progress.
China and Ethiopia are good friends, good brothers and good partners, treating each other with sincerity. China has every confidence that by working together, we two countries will successfully map out still greater developments in the future. መልካም አዲስ አመት ለ መላው ኢትዮጵያን!
