Thursday, 18 March 2010

Addis Ababa, March 18 (WIC) - Cooperation between China and Ethiopia brings practical and tangible results to Ethiopians, Water Resources State Minister, Adugna Jabessa, has told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

Over the past 40 years, especially since the current Ethiopian government took office, the cooperation with China has developed from strength to strength, he said on Wednesday. The Ethiopian government has come to realize that the Chinese government has been giving a lot of support in road construction, hospital building, telecommunication and water resources developing sectors, the minister said, adding that practical and tangible results have been observed. The cooperation between the two countries will continue in a much better, deeper and wider form so that the benefits that have been obtained so far can be further maximized, Adugna added. China has been giving Ethiopia immense and substantial help to Ethiopia and the assistance is multifaceted, he added. The assistance from China is playing an exemplary role in helping Ethiopia to better achieve its own development, Adugna said. "We are grateful, appreciative of all the assistance been given by the Chinese government," he added. The minister said that Ethiopia is a country rich with water resource and China is welcome to invest in water resource development and hydropower station building in Ethiopia as the Asian country is very experienced in this area and it will be mutually beneficial for China and Ethiopia.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Ethiopia, Adugna said, adding that through the efforts of the both governments, the ties and friendship between the two countries is sure to be further strengthened.