BY BACHA ZEWDIE
As a long-standing nation, Ethiopia has strong diplomatic relation with many countries of which some have lasted for more than a century. The relation served both, Ethiopia and the counterparts, in supporting each other on various issues including business, investment and other affairs and its sustainability has rested on continuous talks and discussions.
Among the diplomatic relations Ethiopia made with foreign countries, Ethio-Chinese is the notable one. Bothe countries have close attachment in economic, political and social issues from which both are benefited. To note some sectors; construction, education, investment and aid among others are the core ones. Their relation has lasted longer through continuous discussions.
Recently, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnnen met and discussed with Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Zhao Zhiyuan on various issues of mutual concern, Ethiopian News Agency reported.
According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides have held a fruitful discussion on
principal issues, notably on the COVID-19 pandemic, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), and the latest developments in Tigray Regional State.
During the meeting, Demeke appreciated the Government of China and Chinese companies, including the Jack Ma Foundation, for their valuable support to Ethiopia in fighting the global scourge.
He also expressed his hope that China’s considerations of debt reliefs to some of Ethiopia’s projects would continue to help the nation to mitigate the adverse impacts of the pandemic.
The Deputy Prime Minister also applauded China’s principled stance on the issue of the GERD talks which echoes the principle of “African solutions to African problems.”
In briefing the recent developments in Tigray, Demeke assured the ambassador that the government has maintained the rule of law in the region while continuing to jointly work with international agencies in providing humanitarian assistance and other relief measures to affected people.
With the capture and neutralization of the TPLF leaders, normalcy is returning to the region, Demeke added.
Ambassador Zhao Zhiyuan, on his part, reiterated his government’s gratitude to Ethiopia’s standing shoulder to shoulder with China during the hard times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also thanked the Deputy Prime Minister for the briefings on pivotal issues of the country and vowed to scale up the already strong relationship that existed between the two countries.
Ethiopia’s diplomatic attachment is well founded also with the European countries and smoothly sustained until now as a result of cooperation traced on assuring mutual benefit. Among these is the diplomatic relation with the European Union (EU) countries.
Showcasing the solid bilateral relations of Ethiopia and EU, Ambassador Hirut Zemene conferred with Member of the European Parliament Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, recently.
H.E Ambassador Hirut Zemene, Ambassador of Ethiopia to Belgium, Luxembourg and EU institutions exchanged views virtually on Thursday (January 13) with Honorable Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Vice-Chair of the Development Committee and the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly at the European Parliament, according to the official webpage of the MFA Ethiopia.
The two sides discussed a number of national and regional issues of mutual interest.
Ambassador Hirut Zemene briefed Honourable Chrysoula Zacharopoulou on the works done to restore law and order in Tigray and to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected during the law enforcement campaign.
Ambassador Hirut’s presentation also included the preparations underway to hold the upcoming regional and national elections in Ethiopia, and the overall reform programs that the government is undertaking in Ethiopia.
Honorable Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, on her part, recalled the visit her delegation made to Ethiopia in February 2020, the progress she witnessed in terms of political and economic reform, and she reiterated the need for sustaining the democratic reform and stability in Ethiopia.
The two sides agreed to hold frequent exchanges of views on issues of mutual interest.
The Ethiopian Heraled 17 January
