The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation between Ethiopia and China is gathering further momentum time and time again. The five-day (May 23-28, 2023) official visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen has proven the fact that the two-sides’ are building strong relations on the rock-hard foundation laid over the last decades.
In a bi-weekly briefing on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clearly and concisely put the outcome of the visit this way: “The five day diplomatic tour is the epitome of fast growing Ethiopia-China ties especially in the areas of investment, trade, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and technology transfer.”
Similarly, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan in his tweet earlier this week described the visit as a successful one and expressed his hope that “the visit definitely benefits China and Ethiopia’s practical cooperation and both people’s welfare.”
The cooperation of the two can precisely be perceived as a ‘game changer’. One should look into the tangible outcome of the Chinese investment in Ethiopia, if not in Africa in general. The Chinese FDI is visible taking a shape of manufacturing industry and providing thousands of jobs to the youths. The loan and grant are turned into roads and bridges, toll way, rail-roads and what have you. The infrastructural development that the government has been vastly engaged also received the supports of Ethiopian development partners—and China’s role in this regard is a profound one.
The reform government has priority areas of investment. Mining, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and the service sectors are among the priority areas. And all these demand a huge amount of finance, not to mention the huge appetite for skilled human power. Thus, development partners like China have a large room to contribute to Ethiopia’s development undertakings.
On the other hand, the Chinese support that is peculiar for having no string attached to it would help address some of the critical demands. Ethiopia needs more and more Chinese investment. That is why the Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs called on Chinese companies that have specialized in electronics, information technology, and power generation to plant their wealth into the fertile land of Ethiopia.
The youthful population, clean energy supply, improved service delivery, abundant mineral resources and agricultural inputs as well as the incentive packages the government has put in place make Ethiopia among the ideal FDI destinations in Africa. The Chinese investors are tapping the opportunity and are benefiting themselves and the youths of Ethiopia.
Over and beyond, Ethiopia-China cooperation at multilateral forum is worth noting. China stood by the side of Ethiopia in times when some quarters advanced unfounded allegation against the latter. The sisterly relations of the two countries precluded injustice from spoiling the integrity of an international body. The implication of this is huge of course. Ethiopia never forgets the injustice reigned over the infamous League of Nations. Thanks to the friendly countries of Ethiopia, the world learned its lessons that injustice cannot prevail over justice.
Ethiopia and China are sure to find new areas of cooperation and partnership in the years to come—sky is the limit for their ties. Particularly, the areas of science and technology offer much in bringing the two countries closer and closer. Ethiopia needs more investment and the transfer of tech know-how to benefit the youths that makes up the majority of the population.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 2 JUNE 2023
