Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that China-Ethiopia relations are an example of friendly cooperation between China and Africa during a meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

For a long time, China and Ethiopia have firmly supported each other in safeguarding their respective core interests and opposing external interference, forging an unbreakable iron-clad friendship, Xi said.

China stands ready to take the FOCAC summit as an opportunity to expand pragmatic cooperation between the two countries, he said, adding that China supports Ethiopia in leveraging its strength as a regional transport hub to establish a rail-sea intermodal transport network in East Africa and build a demonstration area for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Africa.

China is willing to enhance communication and collaboration with Ethiopia at the regional level as well as within the frameworks of the UN and BRICS to jointly uphold international fairness and justice, Xi said.

Abiy said China's policies toward Ethiopia fully demonstrate equality and mutual respect and that the bilateral ties are mutually beneficial, noting that investments from Chinese enterprises have significantly contributed to Ethiopia's economic and social development.

Ethiopia is willing to work with China to continue the firm mutual support and promote their all-weather strategic partnership to yield more results, Abiy said.

(With input from Xinhua)