Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen, expressed his delight and gratitude to the Chinese new Foreign Minister, Qin Gang who has made Ethiopia his first African destination since taking office.
In a meeting held at the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Office, the two sides signed Memorandum of Understanding to further enhance their cooperation on political and economic issues.
Mr. Demeke praised China’s consistent and principled stance in global fora in favor of Ethiopia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
At a press conference, Mr. Demeke mentioned his discussion about the Pretoria Peace Agreement and its implementation status with the Chinese Foreign Minister, further appreciating China’s support for peace and stability in Ethiopia.
Foreign Minister Qin Gang, for his part, reaffirmed the Chinese government’s commitment to strengthening and maintaining its all-weather friendship with Ethiopia in the face of changing international circumstances.
According to Mr. Qin Gang, the two countries should strengthen their ties in development cooperation, meet global challenges together, and jointly defend international justice. He stated that the practice of Chinese Foreign Ministers visiting Africa for the past 33 years reflects China’s determination to further strengthen ties with Africa.