Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Ethiopian counterpart Meles
Zenawi Saturday agreed the two countries would keep expanding
all-round cooperation, which has proven fruitful in recent
years.
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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi at the Great Hall of the
People in Beijing, capital of China, on Nov. 4, 2006.?(Xinhua
Photo)
"Cooperation in infrastructure, health care and human resources
have proven effective," Wen told Meles who is in Beijing for the
Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation opening
Saturday morning.
The two sides should blueprint cooperation programs in line with
their existing framework agreement on bilateral development, said
Wen.
He praised Ethiopia, co-chair of the forum, for its efforts to
promote China-Africa relations. "China attaches great importance to
developing trade and economic relations with Africa and sticks to
the principles of mutual benefit and common prosperity in bilateral
cooperation."
The Chinese government has always requested companies to abide
by laws, maintain good credit standing, keep improving quality and
efficiency and protect the local environments while operating in
Africa, said the premier. "We also encourage Chinese businesses to
be heavily involved in Africa's causes of public welfare, so that
China-Africa cooperation will truly benefit the African
people."
Meles said Chinese companies are welcome to invest in Ethiopia
and other African countries, carry out diverse forms of cooperation
and participate in the African countries' construction drive. These
will benefit the African people, he said.
The prime minister thanked China for its long-term support and
assistance, saying his country wishes to expand cooperation with
China in agriculture, commodities trade, infrastructure
construction and human resources development.
During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed the traditional
friendship between China and Ethiopia and expressed belief that
bilateral ties enjoy a rosy outlook.
China and Ethiopia established diplomatic relations on Nov.
24,1970. In December 2003, Premier Wen visited Ethiopia, and
attended the second ministerial conference of the China-Africa
Cooperation Forum. Meles Zenawi visited China in 2004.
Ethiopia is one of the 13 African countries that have been
endorsed as tourist destinations for Chinese tourists. Bilateral
trade totaled US$370 million last year.
(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2006)
