Time flies, and year of 2024 is here as promised. On the occasion of bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new, as Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, I would like to extend my sincere greetings and blessings to all the Ethiopian people and Chinese compatriots in Ethiopia!
The year of 2023 that just passed was nothing but extraordinary. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali in Africa and China respectively. Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali attended the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and paid a successful official visit to China after 4 years since 2019. Under the guidance of both leaders, China and Ethiopia upgraded our bilateral relations into All-weather Strategic Partnership, which means that rain or shine, we two friendly developing countries both agree to step up mutual support on issues of each other’s core interests and major concerns, and remain committed to further enhancing mutual trust, cooperation across the board and strategic consultation regardless of how the external and internal environment may evolve.
Thanks to our collective efforts, Ethiopia will join the BRICS on January 1st, 2024. Just as Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali said, Ethiopia’s BRICS membership could be taken as one of the biggest diplomatic victories of the country recorded in the last few decades. I’m sure that Ethiopia will bring more dynamics to BRICS cooperation, and China always stands ready to expand cooperation with Ethiopia within the BRICS framework.
China-Ethiopia cooperation in various fields keeps gaining momentum. We are determined to implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, and we strengthened practical cooperation in various fields under the frameworks of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation together. By 2023, China has sent a total of 22 batches of more than 500 teachers to various agricultural vocational colleges in Ethiopia to cultivate talents for local agricultural development. China has sent 24 batches of medical teams here to disseminate medical knowledge and offer free clinic for the locals. The practical cooperation between China and Ethiopia has fully boosted local employment. Chinese investment has created 560,000 jobs, and China has also provided thousands of Ethiopian students with opportunities to study in China. Our two sides have continued to make progress in practical cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, communications, finance, culture, education, people to people exchanges and other fields, bringing more benefits to the two peoples.
In the new year, China-Ethiopia relations will continue to develop in depth and substance. The two countries will usher in greater opportunities for respective development and friendly cooperation. China is willing to further strengthen cooperation with Ethiopia and push our All-weather Strategic Partnership to a new high. I believe that as long as we work hand in hand, the future of China and Ethiopia will be even brighter!
May the new year of 2024 bring health, happiness, prosperity to both the peoples of China and Ethiopia! Wish China-Ethiopia friendship everlasting!