China, Ethiopia to step up cooperation

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

January 11, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) – Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. At their joint talks in the capital, Addis Ababa, They agreed to step up co-operation and to contribute to the Sino-African friendship.

Meanwhile, Yang got together with top officials from the African Union. The Chinese minister has signed a 150 million USD aid to the construction of AU hall in Addis.

The agreement was signed between yang jiechi and the chairman of the African Union commission, Alpha Oumar Konare.

During a meeting with Yang Jiechi, Meles Zenawi said Ethiopia and China have enjoyed excellent relations and maintained close exchanges over the past years.

Meles thanked China for offering Ethiopia considerable aid projects and debt relief and zero tariff treatment. He says China’s help plays an active role in boosting Ethiopia’s economic and social development.

He also praised the 2006 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which improves the future development of Africa-China ties.

Yang Jiechi says Ethiopia is an influential African country and is China’s major cooperative partner in Africa. He says China’s pledge to increase assistance to Ethiopia has been implemented in an active way and China will work with Ethiopia to further expand bilateral cooperation.

(ST)