First of all, please allow me to extend, on behalf of Chinese Government, warm congratulations on the complete of the construction of the two China-Africa Friendship Schools Project!

China and Ethiopia enjoy long-term friendship and fine cooperation since the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries. In education area, China and Ethiopia have implemented various of cooperation projects, from scholarships to training programs, from construction of schools to provision of teaching equipment. In 2009, China constructed three Sino-Ethiopia Friendship Schools in rural areas of Ethiopia, which played a role in solving the problem of insufficient educational resources in the countryside. According to Ethiopia's GTP plan, Ethiopia will construct more schools to provide educational opportunities for children of school age, therefore, we are happy to be part of your plan through construction of the two China-Africa Friendship Schools in Addis Ababa.

Children are our future, we must teach them well for their future.The handover ceremony of the two schools is only a start, in the future, I will pay close attention to the students who study here, and if there is chance, I would like to teach them about Chinese culture and the friendship between China and Ethiopia. And I also would like to establish a long term contact with the two schools.

In the future, China will continue to strengthen educational cooperation with Ethiopia and make our cooperation more robust and better-structured. I am sure this will bring tangible benefits to Ethiopian people and make greater contribution to the economic development of Ethiopia.

Finally, I sincerely hope this project will open a new chapter for the further cooperation between China and Ethiopia.

Thank you!