Chinese premier holds talks with Ethiopian PM

Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 16, 2023. Ahmed is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and pay an official visit to the country. [Photo by Liu Bin/Xinhua]

BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday held talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and pay an official visit to the country.

China-Ethiopia relations have developed at a high level in recent years, with deepening political mutual trust and fruitful mutually beneficial cooperation, Li said, noting that China is willing to work with Ethiopia to firmly support each other in maintaining domestic stability and achieving development and revitalization.

China is ready to deepen cooperation with Ethiopia for solid progress in various fields and enrich the China-Ethiopia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to play an exemplary role in driving China-Africa cooperation and South-South cooperation, the premier said.

He noted that China is willing to further expand practical cooperation in economy, trade and other fields, advance cooperation in infrastructure, communications connectivity and industrial park construction, and support Ethiopia's industrialization and agricultural modernization process.

China will import more quality products from Ethiopia, support Chinese enterprises in investing and starting businesses in Ethiopia, and explore cooperation in green development, digital economy, artificial intelligence and other emerging fields, Li said.

China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Ethiopia within such multilateral frameworks as the BRICS mechanism to practice multilateralism, oppose power politics and bullying, and safeguard the common interests of China and Africa as well as international equity and justice, the premier said.

Noting that China is Ethiopia's most trustworthy partner and friend, Ahmed extended appreciation for China's long-time and strong support for Ethiopia's economic and social development.

Ethiopia always abides by the one-China principle and firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests, he said.

Ethiopia is willing to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, learn from China's development experience, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in industry, agriculture, infrastructure construction and other fields, Ahmed said.

Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest and start businesses in Ethiopia, he said, adding that Ethiopia is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China within the BRICS mechanism and the framework of China-Africa cooperation, and jointly promote South-South cooperation.

Following the talks, Li and Ahmed witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents on Belt and Road cooperation, implementation of the Global Development Initiative, agriculture, culture, health, digital economy, green development, and urban and infrastructure construction. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds a welcoming ceremony for Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed prior to their talks at the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 16, 2023. Ahmed is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and pay an official visit to the country. [Photo by Rao Aimin/Xinhua]