The new Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Chen Hai recently presented his credentials to FDRE President Taye Atseke Selassie. Given that the Ethiopia-China relations has grown to all-weather strategic partnership, and the two-sides also cooperate at multilateral fronts, including in BRICS family, The Ethiopian Herald sat down with the Ambassador and dwelt on the topics. Enjoy reading!
Where have you heard about Ethiopia for the first time?
I learned about Ethiopia for the first time in our history text book when I was a middle school student decades ago. I learned that Ethiopia, with splendid culture, time-honored history, and brave and hard-working people, is the only African country that hasn’t been colonized by western countries. Since then, I have been greatly respectful to Ethiopia and its people.
Could you please share with us your experience in the spheres of diplomacy?
I have long worked on Asian affairs and been posted to countries in the region. Before I am honored to be the 16th Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, I have worked as the Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar for more than 5 years. This is my first time to work in Africa, and I feel so lucky and honored to set my foot on the second home of all humanity.
Ethiopian coffee is one of the best in the world, what is the reaction in China?
I enjoy coffee every day. I feel lucky and happy to work in the origin of coffee. Though I have worked in Ethiopia for only 4 months, I already visited Yirgacheffe and will soon visit Kaffa. In my newly published article There is great potential for cooperation between China and Ethiopia in the coffee sector, I highlighted popular Ethiopian coffee in China. In recent years, the Chinese coffee market has expanded at an astonishing rate. Young Chinese people are increasingly keen to try different origins and flavors of coffee, and they are particularly fond of the unique taste of Ethiopian coffee. Small coffee beans have traveled across oceans, becoming an important bond of friendship between China and Ethiopia. Just as the Maritime Silk Road brought tea and porcelain to the East African coast, today Ethiopian coffee is entering households across China. The two-way exchange of coffee and tea is bringing the two countries’ cultures and people closer. During my tenure, one of my important goals is to help increase more export of Ethiopian coffee to China and introduce Ethiopian coffee to more Chinese people.
What are your priorities as an Ambassador of China to Ethiopia in your tenure?
As Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, my priority is to promote China-Ethiopia all-weather strategic partnership and bring more benefits to our two peoples. Specifically speaking, I would join hands with our Ethiopian friends to deepen political mutual trust with mutual respect and support, to enhance our communication and cooperation across the board as a partner on our way to modernization, and to play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability.
What do you think would be the prospect of Ethiopia as a suitable destination of Chinese investment? Could you tell us your expectation for the economic and social cooperation of the two countries?
Ethiopia, as the second largest African country in terms of population, is home to hard-working and diligent people. With vast fertile land, abundant natural resources and beautiful scenery, the country has a good foundation for economic development. Having said that, there is still great potential to be tapped in trade, investment, infrastructure and other cooperation fields.
We should seize the opportunity presented by the FOCAC Summit to expand practical cooperation between the two countries. At the Opening Ceremony of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, President Xi Jinping announced that the overall characterization of China-Africa relations has been elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. He proposed the Partnership Action for Trade Prosperity: China will voluntarily and unilaterally open its market wider. We have decided to give all least developed countries (LDCs) having diplomatic relations with China, including 33 countries in Africa, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. This has made China the first major developing country and the first major economy to take such a step. It will help turn China’s big market into Africa’s big opportunity. China will expand market access for African agricultural products, deepen cooperation with Africa in e-commerce and other areas, and launch a “China-Africa quality enhancement program.” We are prepared to enter into framework agreements on economic partnership for shared development with African countries to provide long-term, stable and predictable institutional guarantee for trade and investment between the two sides.
All these dovetail well with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali’s highlight on our bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, industry, agriculture, sci-tech innovation, digital economy, security, law enforcement and tourism. The important consensus reached by Chinese and Ethiopian leaders draws a blueprint for our future practical cooperation. Let me elaborate on the following highlights:
In industrial modernization, China helps Ethiopia by building industrial parks, investing in different industries and offering conducive experience. During my travel to Sidama, I visited JOJO Flavored Milk invested by Chinese and saw in person how the staff, including local employees, produce the beverage. JOJO means not only one of the most popular beverages in Ethiopia, but also how China helps Ethiopia in a certain sector of industry. Cases can also be found in agricultural modernization: Chinese agricultural experts come to Ethiopia for 15 consecutive years with advanced expertise. China expands import of coffee, sesame and other agricultural products from Ethiopia. Chinese companies are exploring more possible export goods such as fertilizers to cater to the needs of Ethiopia’s agricultural development. China, with similar experience to Ethiopia in agricultural development, is the best partner on our way to agricultural modernization.
Infrastructure is another key area for our bilateral cooperation. Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway and Addis Light Rail are two good examples. After Chinese companies handed over the projects, we have still been helping Ethiopia within our capacity and joining hands to maintain their sustainable operation and make them deliver more benefits to the locals. Going forward, Chinese companies are tentatively conducting feasibility research on getting involved in the construction of the new airport in Bishoftu, another mega project proposed by the Ethiopian Government.
Last but not least, I would like to highlight China and Ethiopia’s frequent people-to-people exchanges and cultural communication, since late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai’s visit to Ethiopia in 1964. This reflects vividly the Chinese saying “amity between the people holds the key to sound state-to-state relations”. Let me remind you of a heroic story about a cardiovascular expert Mei Gengnian, head of China’s first medical team to Ethiopia in 1974. He, who treated over 300 patients and performed 7 operations on his busiest day, sacrificed his life in Jimma, leaving medical legacy for Ethiopia. A road is named after him in the city. Until today, China has sent 25 batches of medical teams to Ethiopia.
By now, Ethiopia takes most opportunities from China in terms of scholarship and short-term training programs. A Chinese university sets up Amharic language major and Ethiopia has two Confucius Institutes for Chinese learning. Luban Workshop and China-Africa-UNIDO Center of Excellence contribute greatly to capacity building. Just to name a few. Education fosters talents for future economic development. Ethiopia, as one of the youngest countries, can better leverage the advantage with China’s selfless assistance in this regard.
As two ancient civilizations, China and Ethiopia have every reason to promote cultural communication. The First China-Ethiopia Film and TV Festival will fall on December 20 to 23, 2024. A grand celebration on Chinese Spring Festival will be held on January 12, 2025 at Friendship Square in Addis. All our Ethiopian friends are most welcome to participate and experience Chinese cultures. We believe such cultural activities will gain greater popularity in Ethiopia. Our Embassy is also working relentlessly to bring Ethiopian culture to China for cultural communication and development.
How strong is BRICS to counter any external pressure from different corners in terms of trade and relations?
Ethiopia has become an important member in BRICS family and is playing an important role. China is willing to work with all BRICS countries including Ethiopia to open a new horizon in the high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation, and join hands with Global South countries in building a community with a shared future for mankind.
China is committed to non-interference in internal affairs of other countries. Meanwhile, China stands ready to play a constructive role in regional peace and stability based on respect for willingness and needs of other countries. Ethiopia has a fine tradition of independent diplomacy since it is the only African country that hasn’t been colonized. As developing countries, both China and Ethiopia are jointly opposed to external interference, especially in the world today undergoing major changes unseen in a century.
What do you make of the last edition of Sino Africa forum where the former pledged one billion USD for the latter, what will be the next step?
At the Opening Ceremony of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, President Xi proposed 10 partnership actions. To implement the partnership actions, the Chinese Government will provide RMB360 billion Yuan of financial support through the next three years. This breaks down into RMB210 billion Yuan of credit line, RMB80 billion Yuan of assistance in various forms, and at least RMB70 billion Yuan of investment in Africa by Chinese companies.
President Xi, when meeting with Prime Minister Abiy during the Summit, highlighted that China supports Ethiopia in leveraging its advantages as a regional transportation hub, promoting the interconnected development of infrastructure and industries, and building a sea-rail combined transport network in the East Africa region as well as a demonstration zone for high-quality China-Africa Belt and Road cooperation. Going forward, China is ready to work with Ethiopia to implement the important consensus reached by our leaders, promote our all-weather strategic partnership and make greater contributions to Ethiopia’s social and economic development.
Major carbon emitter nations and developed ones have been reluctant to commit to climate agreements and financial supports yet the impact of climate changes worsens particularly in developing nations, what is China’s position?
The Chinese Government upholds the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) principles of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities, and respective capabilities and promotes the full, balanced, and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement. China continues to implement an active national strategy in response to climate change, adopting a series of policies and measures to strive for carbon emissions peaking before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060.
Based on this, China is actively collaborating with Ethiopia and Africa as a whole to achieve green and sustainable development for generations to come. Prime Minister Abiy proposed Green Legacy Initiative, which exactly conforms to Xi Jinping’s Thought on Ecological Civilization. Both countries are transforming words into deeds, and sparing no efforts to pursue an eco-friendly development model and cushion the climate change impacts.
Chinese investors are also making contributions to the realization of Green Legacy Initiative. For example, Sino Aluminum Manufacturing PLC, located in Tulefa, is turning local plastic waste into fibre, which is used for textile, pillows, quilts, etc. Its annual production reaches thousands of tons. Our Embassy will encourage more Chinese companies to contribute to the Initiative through concrete action.
Thank you very much for the interview!
Thank you!
BY WORKU BELACHEW
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 14 DECEMBER 2024
