Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called to enhance the relationship between China and Ethiopia to a comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership.
Xi made the remarks when meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who is in Beijing to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation scheduled for May 14 to 15.
He urged stronger cooperation in the fields of interoperability and production capacity, and called for the safe, orderly and effective promotion of bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
China's President Xi Jinping (L) and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn (R-2) attend a meeting ahead of the upcoming Belt and Road Forum at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China on May 12, 2017. /Reuters Photo
Xi pointed out that Ethiopia is an important and influential country in Africa, and is also a geographic extension of the Maritime Silk Road. China welcomes Ethiopia to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and supports Ethiopia to play a role as a bridge connecting the Belt and Road Initiative and Africa.
Xi said China is willing to work with Ethiopia to implement the outcome of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and to promote the Belt and Road Initiative, deepen bilateral cooperation comprehensively and promote mutual development.
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn (R-2) speaks during a meeting with China's President Xi Jinping ahead of the upcoming Belt and Road Forum at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China on May 12, 2017. /Reuters Photo
Desalegn said both countries have achieved further cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, production capacity, infrastructure construction, and Ethiopia is willing to implement the outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to deepen bilateral cooperation.
He also said the Belt and Road Initiative is a visionary and global initiative, and would help to promote interoperability, trade and investment, while adding that Ethiopia will actively participate in the Initiative and cooperate with China.
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