The China-Africa relationship, and specifically the China-Ethiopia relationship, has been a subject of significant attention in recent years. China’s engagement with Africa, including Ethiopia, has been expanded in various dimensions such as trade, investment, infrastructure development, and diplomatic ties. The China-Africa relationship has also garnered significant attention in recent years, with China’s engagements in Africa expanding across various sectors.
Among the many African nations, Ethiopia has emerged as a key partner for China, fostering a multifaceted relationship that encompasses trade, investment, infrastructure development, and diplomatic ties. To understand the current China-Ethiopia relationship, it is crucial to examine the historical context. China and Ethiopia have a longstanding history of diplomatic and cultural exchanges, dating back to the 20th century. The establishment of diplomatic relations in 1970 laid the foundation for bilateral cooperation, which has grown significantly in recent decades.
China’s economic cooperation with Ethiopia has also witnessed remarkable growth. Trade volumes between the two nations have soared, with Ethiopia exporting commodities such as coffee, leather products, and agricultural goods to China, while importing machinery, textiles, and electronics from China. China has also become a major investor in Ethiopia, contributing to infrastructure development, industrialization, and job creation.
Chinese investments have spurred industrialization in Ethiopia, with a focus on sectors such as manufacturing, textiles, and agro-processing. Economic cooperation zones and industrial parks, developed with Chinese expertise and investment, have attracted foreign businesses, generating employment opportunities and contributing to Ethiopia’s economic diversification efforts.
China’s aid and development assistance to African countries, particularly, to Ethiopia have played a significant role in supporting the country’s socio-economic development. Grants, loans, and technical cooperation have been provided in areas such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Chinese assistance has contributed to poverty reduction, capacity building, and human resource development in Ethiopia.
In recent scenario, the eighth China-AU Strategic Dialogue was successfully held. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to jointly advance the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era. Not long ago, the China-aided Africa CDC headquarters was completed and delivered to AU. It is a flagship China-Africa cooperation project announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping. China overcame COVID-19 pandemic difficulties and completed the construction in only two years. As a monument of China-Africa friendship, it will greatly enhance Africa’s capacity for disease prevention, surveillance and emergency response capacity.
The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Ethiopia has held a presser at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in relation to the country’s status as a developing country, the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, the BRICS summit, and other matters. During the briefing, Head of China’s Mission to the African Union, Ambassador Hu Changchun said that China supports Africa integration process and supports the AU to play active roles in regional and international affairs.
“China and AU have explored many key areas of cooperation, such as poverty reduction, economic recovery, job training, education and healthcare, cross-border payments and green development. We together have set up an expert group on Economic cooperation to support the implementation of AfCFTA. We also support the construction of African Standby Force and rapid Reaction Force. China takes the lead in supporting AU in joining G20,” Ambassador Hu said.
Ambassador Hu further stated that, China will join hands with African friends, focusing on the synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, with Agenda 2063 and the development strategies of African countries. As to him, African countries are committed to building an integrated, peaceful and prosperous Africa and realizing Agenda 2063, which is highly compatible with China’s strategy of high-quality development and Chinese modernization.
Speaking of the Road and Belt Initiative, he said that 52 African countries are part of the initiative with the average growth of imports and exports between China and Africa reached 8.6 % from 2013-2022. Also, in this period, the two-way investment also hit over 270 billion USD.
The Ambassador also emphasized that China’s Central Committee proposed a four- point cooperation plan for global community countries, which has garnered recognition from the international community. The proposal calls for collaborative efforts to resolve conflicts and establish peace, promote development through revitalization, foster inclusive progress and openness, and pursue cooperation and solidarity, he emphasized.
Mentioning that, China and Africa have developed a new mode of economic and trade cooperation for international production capacity, he accentuated that China has established 25 economic cooperation zones with African countries, bringing together a group of Chinese and international enterprises with a cumulative investment of more than 7.3 billion USD, creating a large scale of tax revenue and employments for the host countries.
He further illustrated that, the Eastern Industrial Park in Ethiopia has gathered nearly 100 enterprises, including 75 Chinese-funded enterprises, creating 15,000 jobs. China has also launched a large number of vocational and technical training programs in Africa, and set up 14 “Luban workshops”, which have trained a large number of workers with professional and technical abilities, bringing new hope to Africa’s industrialization.
“Looking ahead, China will continue to adhere to the principle of extensive consultation; joint contribution and shared benefits; pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and green, healthy and sustainable development; deepen China-Africa traditional friendship; strengthen practical cooperation with African countries; and connect the Chinese dream and the African dream. We are ready to work with Africa to make the Belt and Road a road of cooperation for building a community with a shared future,” the Ambassador detailed.
In the past decade, China signed more than 200 cooperation documents with over 150 countries and 30 international organizations. China has also actively promoted the alignment of this Initiative with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Clean and green energy has also become a new area of China-Africa cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
On top of that, China has worked with Ethiopia, Angola, Burundi, Mali, Guinea, Tanzania, Morocco and other countries to build a large number of hydro, solar and wind power projects, provide a strong guarantee of clean energy for Africa’s economic development. For example, the Adama Wind Farm in Ethiopia, the Caculo Cabaça Hydro-power Project in Angola built by Chinese enterprises, and the Sonelgaz Algeria Solar PV Park are the largest hydro-power, wind power and photovoltaic projects in Africa, the Ambassador said.
It is internationally recognized that developed countries are primarily responsible for global climate change and historical carbon emissions. Providing financial aids to developing countries to help them better cope with climate change is not only an inescapable responsibility, but also an international obligation of developed countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Paris Accord. They have long failed to face up to their responsibilities and to deliver on their commitments, undermining the current climate agenda.
Mentioning China is committed to promote ecological progress and taking actions on climate governance, Amb. Hu said that China has announced carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals and will take the historically shortest time to achieve those goals. China steadily adjusts its energy structure, ranking the first in wind power and solar power installation and generation in the world, and is the biggest producing country and market of new energy vehicles.
China not only adheres to the path of green development itself, but also continues to deepen South-South cooperation on climate change under the framework of the Green Belt and Road Initiative. China has done its best to provide support and assistance to other developing countries in coping with climate change, Amb. Hu said.
Looking ahead, China reaffirms its commitment to deepening its cooperation with Africa, including Ethiopia, through initiatives like the Belt and Road and the promotion of sustainable and inclusive development. The China-Africa relationship has evolved into a dynamic partnership that encompasses economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and development assistance.
All things considered, the China-Africa relationship, particularly the China-Ethiopia ties, has evolved into a dynamic and multifaceted partnership. Economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and development assistance have been key pillars of this relationship. While challenges exist, the prospects for future collaboration are promising. As China and Ethiopia continue to deepen their engagement, it is essential to ensure that the benefits are shared equitably and contribute to sustainable and inclusive development.
BY HIZKEL HAILU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 29 AUGUST 2023
