Xi Jinping Meets with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia

On April 24, 2019, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia at the Great Hall of the People.

Xi Jinping emphasized that Ethiopia is an important cooperation partner of China in Africa. Both China and Ethiopia are major developing countries that have relied on their own efforts to pioneer development paths that suited their own specific national conditions. The Chinese side supports the Ethiopian side's efforts in maintaining stability, developing economy and improving livelihood, and is willing to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges with the Ethiopian side, understand and support each other on issues involving respective core interests and major concerns. China will advance bilateral cooperation of mutual benefit, help the Ethiopian side improve its abilities in industrialization and in earning foreign exchange through exports, and keep close communication and coordination with Ethiopia in international and regional affairs concerning climate change and the situation in the Horn of Africa. The Chinese side is willing to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries by jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and by implementing the results achieved at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), so as to better benefit the people of the two countries.

Abiy Ahmed Ali said that when he came to China, he felt like in his second hometown. China is the most reliable friend and the most cherished partner of Ethiopia. The people of Ethiopia congratulate the People's Republic of China on its 70th anniversary and will never forget the valuable help and support from China. Ethiopia is willing to take the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year to continuously promote the friendly relations between the two countries and actively participate in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. China has always respected African countries and never imposed its own will upon African countries. The African countries highly value the China-Africa cooperation principle put forward by President Xi Jinping at the FOCAC Beijing Summit and they fully agree to promote the international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and firmly support the establishment of a closer community of a shared future for China and Africa under the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi and He Lifeng attended the meeting.