Understanding the severity and impact of the outbreak, the leaders of Ethiopia and China have held talks on the COVID-19 outbreak. The phone talk held on Wednesday between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) and President Xi Jinping has vividly illustrated the brotherly relationship in sharing weal and woe.
In the conversation, on behalf of the Ethiopian people, the Prime Minister expressed sympathies towards the Chinese people over the COVID-19 outbreak and applauded China’s effective response measures. What is more, Ethiopia expressed its confidence in China to provide due care and support for all Ethiopian students as its own citizens.
Ethiopia has applauded China’s commitment to put the COVID-19 outbreak under control.
Ethiopia’s confidence in China is demonstrated by maintaining normal contacts and exchanges in line with the World Health Organization’s advice. Ethiopia knows that fighting the COVID-19 outbreak is the top priority agenda for the Chinese government which is highly responsible for the lives and health of its citizens and people in the rest of the world as well.
China has made good use of its institutional strengths and put in place the most comprehensive, thorough and rigorous prevention and control measures. Here, Ethiopia witnesses that encouraging results have been achieved in China.
Even though the outbreak is a severe one, Ethiopia has confidence in China to control the COVID-19 and achieve the set goals for economic and social development.
Ethiopia recalls the positive contributions of the Chinese government when African countries were highly affected by the Ebola outbreak. Even at this critical time, China is willing to equip African countries with medical supplies that are urgently needed.
Ethiopia now follows citizen-centered diplomacy and always puts people’s lives and health in the first place. Ethiopia is well aware of China’s rich experience in mobilizing its public towards thwarting national threats and is confident that this will also be the case in the fight against COVID-19.
Chinese government’s strong leadership and power of action in dealing with the outbreak are obvious to all and the international community has expressed admiration and appreciation for it.
As witnessed through the talks between the two leaders, Ethiopia firmly believes that China will surely overcome the outbreak at an early date and minimize its impact on economic and social development.
Ethiopia and China have established strategic relations that pass the test of hardship.
China is among the major sources of FDI for Ethiopia. Hence, any harm to China would indirectly affect Ethiopia. The position Ethiopia has taken at this difficult time proves the strategic importance it assigns to China. Likewise, China’s commitment to protecting Ethiopians living there demonstrates the strategic significance it puts on its ties with Ethiopia.
The move should be hailed and need to be intensified. Because it is only through cooperation that China can emerge victorious against the deadly outbreak, so can the world. Ethiopian Herald February 27/2020
