Your Excellency, Mr. Tadesse Haile, State Minister of Trade and Industry
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my great honor to attend the opening ceremony of the 2nd training course of bamboo planting and processing. First and foremost, I would like, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, to extend to you my warmest congratulations and best wishes.
We are beginning this significant program at a significant point of time. At this very moment, H.E. Ato Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and H.E. Mr.Hu Jintao, President of China, are co-hosting the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing. It is a historical coincidence, but with a historical eventuality. Because our bamboo training is by no means a separate project. It is out of a systematic cooperation strategy taken by the Chinese and Ethiopian Governments together. So allow me to briefly touch upon the bilateral relations.
China and Ethiopia established diplomatic ties in 1970. Since then, the two countries have been developing the relations featuring equality, mutual respect and mutual benefits. Particularly, since the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front assumed office in 1991, the bilateral relations embarked on a fast track. High-level visits are frequently exchanged. Trade and investment are increasing rapidly.
China, as a friend of Ethiopia, is committed to rendering support for Ethiopia's economic and social development. During the ongoing Beijng Summit, the Chinese Government will put forward an array of new measures to support development of African countries, including Ethiopia. The assistance is limited to our capacities, but genuine and selfless.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are fully aware, and you are aware too, that development can't be sustained unless beneficiaries can accomplish the tasks as their own. China, as a true friend, should not only give out material assistance, but share knowledge and spread techniques, so as to help the Ethiopian people help themselves. This is what we are doing right now----the cooperation in human resource development.
As one of the pillars of human resource cooperation, we launched the first training course last year, in collaboration with the esteemed Ministry of Trade and Industry of Ethiopia, as well as International Network for Bamboo and Rattan. 45 Ethiopian young men and women not only benefited from the training course itself, but also entered into life-long friendship with Chinese experts. The program was quickly recognized as a success by the two Governments, who are therefore determined to continue with it this year.
Today, we re-launch the program with a 6-week-long training course on bamboo furniture and then a 2-week-long course on bamboo planting. The Chinese experts here today are coming from different parts of the country, with different career backgrounds. But they are more than ready to share what they know with you. I am touched by their energies and enthusiasms and I am also inspired by the dynamics and determinations of Ethiopian attendants. The 40 of you, chosen from thousands of Ethiopians, are the best of best. You are not only supposed to equip yourselves with the techniques, but also obliged to pass what you learn to your brothers, sisters and friends, so that more Ethiopian people can benefit from the program.
I hear " Addis Ababa" means "new flower" in Amharic. I would like to conclude my speech by expressing my sincere hope, that all of you will join hands in the study and exchanges, so that the new buds of our training program will grow into splendid flowers and bear fruits to the people of Ethiopia.
Thank you very much.