China’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan said enhancing Ethio-China trade relations is crucial to promote bilateral friendship between the two countries.
Speaking at the 6th China International Import Expo (Ethiopia) Promotion Conference in Addis Ababa today, the ambassador stressed the need to enhance Ethio-China trade relations to promote the bilateral friendship of the countries to a new level.
He reaffirmed that his embassy will continue facilitating and promoting bilateral investment and trade ties between China and Ethiopia to contribute to the economic development of Ethiopia.
“The Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia will continue to be a facilitator and promoter of bilateral investment and trade between China and Ethiopia and contribute to the economic development of Ethiopia.”
The two countries can make full use of the high-quality platform provided by the China International Import Expo (CIIE) to deepen the economic ties.
“China and Ethiopia can make full use of the high-quality platform provided by CIIE to deepen mutually beneficial bilateral, economic and trade cooperation and promote Ethio-Chna friendship to a new level,” Zhao said.
The 2023 edition of CIIE will be held in Shanghai, China from November 5-10, 2023.
“Enhancing trade relations between China and Ethiopia is exactly the important part and the significant link to promote bilateral friendship,” ambassador Zhao added.
Several Chinese enterprises wish to invest in Ethiopia while more and more Ethiopians want to find new opportunities in China, the ambassador noted.
According to him, the political trust between the leaders of the two countries has improved cooperation in various fields, including economic ties, especially trade and investment.
The bilateral trade volume between the countries reached 2.7 billion USD in the year 2022.
Advisor to the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, Dagnachew Atinkut said Ethiopia has big interest to increase economic cooperation with China and the Chinese government is expanding trade and investment with Ethiopia.
According to the advisor, officials of his ministry, the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association and other business people are expected to participate in the CIIE to be held in Shanghai in order to explore the Chinese market, promote trade and investment and enhance market linkages.
“It is a good opportunity for our country to promote trade and investment to broaden its market linkage,” he noted.
During the conference, Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association President Melaku Azezew and CIIE Bureau Deputy Director General Song Shangzhe have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at cooperatively working on trade and investment.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency