中文
ADDIS ABABA, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Expressing its commitment of solidarity and partnership with Ethiopia, China's global leading provider of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart solutions, Huawei, on Thursday donated anti-COVID-19 materials to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE) of the East African country.
At a ceremony held on the premises of MoSHE in the capital Addis Ababa, Huawei Ethiopia CEO, Tiber Zhou, along with the deputy CEO in charge of government and enterprise business, Charles Ding, handed over the donation to the Minister of MoSHE, Professor Hirut Woldemariam, which include 10,000 surgical masks, 20 infrared thermometers and 100 bottles of sanitizers.
Reiterating that her ministry has forged a long-standing partnership with Huawei in ICT talent capacity building and IT infrastructure modernization, the Ethiopian minister has hailed the donation by the Chinese company, which she said came at the critical period of the pandemic.
Hirut noted that the Company's donation and such action of solidarity would further cement the partnership between her Ministry and Huawei.
"This is very precious gift that can help us to protect ourselves from COVID-19 pandemic, to also protect our institutes, and our supporters and our partners with these equipment. Of courses, in times like this, we are reminded of how we are inter-related with each other; how we need each other to get over this kind of global crisis; we need each other very much and thank you very much for being here for us," said the minister.
The Huawei Ethiopia CEO on his part has expressed his company's commitment to the partnership with MoSHE in ICT capacity building and also in the fight against this pandemic.
"Today is a very special time; Huawei and MoSHE together to fight against COVID-19. As we know, the students of universities and TVETs are the future of Ethiopia, and we care about their health," said Tiber.
The Ethiopian Minister has also noted that Ethiopia and China have been enjoying comprehensive strategic partnership, and the cooperation between the two countries in education sector is well.
"We have a very long standing cooperation and partnership between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and China. And the partnership is comprehensive in all areas, it is also working very well in educational sector for us. There are a number of partnerships; university-university partnerships, universities in Ethiopia are highly related, closely related, working in researches, teaching, and in other areas of partnership," noted Professor Hirut.
Reiterating that Huawei would continue its engagement with MoSHE in training more ICT talents for Ethiopia towards the development of digital economy in the East African country, Tiber said his company would also provide the similar donation to other Ethiopian ministries as well as to African Union pertinent organ.
In addition to MoSHE, the CEO said Huawei would do such donation to other ministries in Ethiopia such as Ministry of Education (MoE), Ministry of Information and Technology (MInT), as well as other offices.
"MoSHE is a long time partnership, cooperation; and we care about the health and development of university students and TVET students; and this time we are donating video conference systems and medical materials. Today, it is the donation ceremony of MoSHE, but in fact, we are also including the donation for other ministries, including African Union center, including MInT, including the Ethiopian Telecom, including MoE, and also including customs office," said the Huawei Ethiopia CEO.
Having entered the Ethiopian market in 2008, Huawei has been working constantly with country's telecom office, Ethio Telecom for network modernization and also with various governmental departments and universities for providing high-quality ICT infrastructures.
"It is also offering us a great support to develop quality teaching-learning and training programs in Ethiopia. And it's a great partner... We have been receiving scholarship, training programs for outstanding students from different universities and TVET institutes," said the MoSHE Minister.
With around 100 local and international employees, Huawei Ethiopia has been working mainly in three sectors, including telecommunication sector, government and business sector, and terminal device sector.
