Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia
H.E. Demeke Mekonnen had a phone conversation on Thursday (February 11) with State Councillor & Minister of Foreign Affairs of China H.E. Mr. Wang Yi about current humanitarian supports in the Tigray region, cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic, the negotiations over the GERD and the Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute.
During their conversation, Mr. Demeke expressed Ethiopia’s gratitude to China’s principled intervention during the United Nations security meeting on the issue of the GERD where Egypt had bypassed the tripartite negotiations and all regional mechanisms.
He hoped that China’s non-intervention and principled position on the GERD issue and its commitment to cooperate with Ethiopia on multilateral agendas would continue.
Recalling the belligerent actions of Sudan in forcefully entering into Ethiopian territories and reiterating Ethiopia’s commitment to solve the issue through dialogue, Mr. Demeke urged the Government of China to put the necessary pressure on Sudan to respect international law and evacuate the area that it has occupied as of November 6, plundering and dislocating Ethiopians.
Contrary to the allegations of some corners of the international community, Mr. Demeke said the government of Ethiopia, the Interim Government of Tigray, and 26 international aid agencies are busy delivering humanitarian support to the needy people in Tigray, including those affected by the now completed law enforcement operation.
He said food and non-food items have been distributed to a large number of people from the 92 distribution centers established in the region.
The Deputy Prime minister’s briefing also included the efforts of the government to rehabilitate and rebuild destroyed infrastructures including telecommunication and power supply lines that hugely affected
banking and other much-needed services in the region.
For his part, Mr. Wang Yi said China understands the Ethiopian government’s efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to affected people in the Tigray region.
He said the government of China will continue to support development projects in Ethiopia and stands firm in its commitment to fight the COVID-19 pandemic together with Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Herald February 14/2021
