ETHIOPIA

President Xi Jinping called on Tuesday for China and Ethiopia to be friends who jointly promote common development and win-win cooperation as well as partners in enhancing South-South unity and cooperation and upholding international fairness and justice.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. He congratulated Ethiopia on joining the BRICS cooperation mechanism, saying that the East African country is an important participant in joint building of the Belt and Road.

Xi underlined the need for both countries to constantly consolidate their traditional friendship and mutual trust, and deepen pragmatic cooperation to achieve more fruitful results in promoting bilateral ties.

He emphasized that China supports Ethiopia in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, and the two countries should continue to strengthen unity and cooperation and should firmly support each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns.

China is willing to strengthen practical cooperation with Ethiopia in various fields within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, support Ethiopia's postwar reconstruction and economic revitalization and enhance partnership in green development, he added.

Ahmed said that China is an important partner, and Chinese investment and other bilateral cooperation projects, especially those under the BRI, have effectively promoted Ethiopia's economic and social development.

Ethiopia's relationship with China is on the right path, and further strengthening bilateral relations is not only crucial for Ethiopia but also of great significance for South-South unity, he said.

Ahmed said that Ethiopia hopes to learn from China's experience in Party and State governance, and looks forward to further promoting the joint construction of the Belt and Road with China. Ethiopia welcomes more Chinese investment, he added.

The Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, all proposed by Xi, embody equality, openness and mutual respect, and they are conducive to promoting common development, said Ahmed.

The two countries issued a joint statement on the establishment of an all-weather strategic partnership.

CAO DESHENG