Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Sunday that China is ready to work with Ethiopia to promote the sustainable development of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative, and to expand bilateral trade and investment. Li made the remarks during a meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Premier Li noted that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 55 years ago, China and Ethiopia have treated each other sincerely and supported one another regardless of global changes. He emphasized that cooperation between the two countries has long been a frontrunner in China-Africa relations. Li also stated that China will work with Ethiopia to implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and build their relationship into a model of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
Prime Minister Abiy expressed gratitude for China’s longstanding support for Ethiopia’s economic and social development. He said that Ethiopia considers China a reliable strategic partner and looks forward to enhancing cooperation in economy, trade, infrastructure, AI, tourism, and mining, while also strengthening coordination in multilateral affairs.