China’s new foreign minister (FM), Qin Gang, visited Ethiopia on his first official trip and signed several documents that will help strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
ETHIOPIA VISIT
On Tuesday, Qin Gang met with Ethiopian Deputy PM and FM Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, with both Ethiopian ministers hailing the “great significance” of choosing the East African country as Qin’s first overseas trip.
Qin applauded Ethiopia’s active participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and their several key joint cooperation projects, including the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, Addis Ababa Light Rail, Addis Ababa Riverside Green Development, and leadership schools in Africa.
Great moments when accompanying #China’s FM Qin Gang on meetings with #Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Ahmed and DPM&FM Demeke Mekonnen. China continues to support Ethiopia on peace and prosperity.
— 吴鹏 Wu Peng (@WuPeng_MFAChina) January 11, 2023
This visit will surely strengthen our comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.🇨🇳🇪🇹 pic.twitter.com/YB7iJWvd8r
They signed many cooperation documents, including a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on political consultation between the two foreign ministries.
Qin also met with Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed Ali and praised the countries’ “exemplary” cooperation in infrastructure, green economy, agriculture, and industrial park construction, which they said has “produced remarkable results” and helped Ethiopia to “rank among the fastest-growing economies in Africa.”
COMMENTS ON TIGRAY
During a joint press conference with Hassen, Qin stressed that Ethiopia was the “common home of all Ethiopians, including those from the Tigray Region.” He congratulated the government on reaching a ceasefire agreement with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
I welcome to Ethiopia Mr Qin Gang, the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China. The relations b/n the two countries remains steadfast. Our discussion today has highlighted this; our shared strategic development goals & commitment to continental and global cooperation. pic.twitter.com/JNoP6OVOJ1
— Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 (@AbiyAhmedAli) January 10, 2023
He stressed that “China has always believed that the conflict in the Tigray Region is an internal affair of Ethiopia” and that the country has the “ability to independently resolve their internal differences.”
Noting the strategic importance of the Horn of Africa, which has “a major impact on the peace and stability” in Africa and the Middle East, he assured that China’s “outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa” aimed to support African nations to “seek strength through unity.”
He added that Beijing will “actively participate in the reconstruction of conflict-affected areas.”
AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION (AUC)
On Wednesday, Qin held the 8th China-AU Strategic Dialogue with the Chairperson of the AUC, Moussa Faki Mahamat.
He assured Mahamat that China will continue to be the AUC’s development partner and work together to build “a China-Africa community.” He re-emphasised China’s support for the AU’s admission to the G20 and aim to lobby for “African countries’ greater representation and voice” at the UN Security Council, which will help “safeguard the common interests of developing countries.”
H.E. PM Abiy Ahmed Ali received the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of #China, H.E Qin Gang & his delegation at his office. The discussions focused on strengthening the strategic cooperation between the two countries at the bilateral & multilateral levels. pic.twitter.com/0aFxqSkVxM
— Ethiopian Mission EU (@EthiopiaEU) January 11, 2023
Mahamat said that Africa values China’s “strong support for African integration, connectivity and the development of free trade area.”
Both agreed to “step up high-level exchanges, align their development strategies more closely, and focus on practical cooperation.” Moreover, they signed cooperation documents, including the economic and technical agreement on the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.