Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, met with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister, Workneh Gebeyehu, last week at Addis Ababa and has spoken about the desire to strengthen the relations with African nations. The two ministers held a meeting and attended a press conference.
The Chinese minister said that his country’s partnership with the African continent is not just commercial. With the Chinese collaboration, roads, railways, airports and ports were built, as well as hospitals and more than 20,000 health professionals were sent to the continent.
In the opportunity, Wang Yi also downplayed accusations that China has been holding partnerships in Africa with the aim of exploiting the region’s abundant natural resources. He said the critics will not affect the current cooperation.
“We support the economic reforms Ethiopia is undertaking. Ethiopia continues to be a strategic partner and reliable ally in Africa. Friendship and cooperation will continue and there’s no policy change towards Ethiopia”, said the Chinese minister.
For Ethiopian Minister Workneh Gebevehu, China today is Ethiopia’s most important partner and he believes that deepening these relations will be beneficial to his country.
China in the African Union
During his visit to Ethiopia, the Chinese minister also met with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, to discuss the progress since the last Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in 2018. In the occasion, was inaugurated the Integrated Service Center, a multi-storey building with services of Accreditation Center, Archive, Printing Center, Main Store and Dinning Center, located in the Northern end of the AU Premises and the Government of China has agreed to finance, design, construct and equip the project.
In the first week of 2019, the Chinese representants also visited Gambia, Senegal and Burkina Faso.