ADDIS ABABA ( WNAM MONITORING): Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Thursday received Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the National Palace in Addis Ababa for talks, according to an official statement.
The Ethiopian prime minister’s office said the discussions focused on deepening bilateral relations and addressing key regional issues of “mutual interest.”
During the meeting, Wang expressed Beijing’s willingness to elevate the “all-weather strategic partnership” between China and Ethiopia to new heights, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Abiy, meanwhile, expressed willingness to deepen cooperation in areas including infrastructure, new energy, artificial intelligence and maritime affairs.
Wang also urged accelerating the upgrading of economic and trade cooperation and enhancing collaboration in infrastructure, green industries and the Belt and Road Initiative, among other areas.
He expressed hope that Ethiopia would provide a favorable environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and operate.
The Chinese foreign minister additionally voiced Beijing’s willingness to play a constructive role in promoting regional peace, stability, and mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as advance the initiative of the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa.
Diplomatic ties between Beijing and Addis Ababa date back to 1970 and were upgraded to an “all-weather strategic partnership” in 2023.
Wang is on a two-day official visit to the Horn of Africa nation aimed at strengthening strategic cooperation between the two countries.
Following his engagements in Ethiopia, Wang is scheduled to visit Somalia and Tanzania before concluding his African tour in Lesotho on Jan. 12.
The visit marks the 36th consecutive year that Africa has been chosen as the destination for China’s foreign minister’s first overseas trip of the year.
Commenting on Wang’s New Year visit to Africa, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Thursday that the continent “is a grand stage for international cooperation.”
“China is willing to work with all parties to make greater positive contributions to promoting peace, stability, and development in Africa, based on respect for African sovereignty,” Mao said, recalling that China and the “vast majority of African countries have fought side by side in the struggle for national independence.”
China has emerged as Ethiopia’s largest source of investment and its largest trading partner, with annual trade volume of around $3.5 billion, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Beijing has completed a series of projects in Ethiopia, including highways, veterinary stations, power stations and water supply projects, the ministry said.
China has remained Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, with trade reaching $314 billion in the first 11 months of 2025, according to the Beijing-based daily Global Times.
Last year also marked the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
