Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) shakes hands with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn during their talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 4, 2014. Li started an Africa tour on Sunday with his arrival in Ethiopia, where he will also visit the headquarters of the African Union (AU). (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his Ethiopian counterpart, Hailemariam Desalegn, vowed Sunday to strive for new progress in the development of the bilateral comprehensive cooperative partnership.
In his talks with the Ethiopian prime minister, Li lauded the profound traditional friendship between the two countries and the steady deepening of bilateral cooperation, expressing the hope that his visit will further consolidate China-Ethiopia friendship and steer China-Ethiopia and China-Africa relations toward new achievements.
Noting that strengthening bilateral cooperation serves the fundamental and long-term interests of both sides, Li stressed that his country stands ready to make concerted efforts with Ethiopia to maintain the momentum of high-level mutual visits so as to further cement mutual political trust.
The two sides, Li proposed, should prioritize cooperation in infrastructure construction and development of energy and resources while expanding mutual beneficial collaboration in such fields as light rail and highway construction.
Beijing supports Ethiopia's efforts in establishing special economic zones and industrial parks, and is willing to share experience with Ethiopia in this regard in an unreserved manner and transfer to Ethiopia industries and technologies that suit the development needs of local communities, added Li.
China will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises and financial institutions to invest in Ethiopia's domestic construction, Li said, adding that Beijing hopes that the Ethiopian side will provide a better business environment and investment facilitation measures for Chinese firms.
Meanwhile, China is also ready to work with Ethiopia to boost cooperation in such areas as culture, education, health, technology and tourism, and enhance bilateral communication and coordination on major global and regional affairs so as to safeguard the legitimate rights of development countries.
For his part, Hailemariam extended a warm welcome for the Chinese leader, saying the comprehensive cooperation between Ethiopia and China has promoted Ethiopia's economic growth and transformation.
Chinese premier arrives for Ethiopia visit
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his wife Cheng Hong arrives in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, for an official visit, May 4, 2014. [Photo by Liu Zhen/China News Service]
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang started an Africa tour on Sunday with his arrival in Ethiopia, where he will also visit the headquarters of the African Union (AU).
Ethiopia is the first leg of Li's ongoing four-nation Africa tour, his first to the "Land of Hope" since he took office last year and the latest stroke of the frequent high-level diplomacy between the Asian giant and the promising continent.
During his stay, Li will hold talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, meet President Mulatu Teshome, and sit down with Chinese and African business leaders to discuss the China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.
The Chinese leader is also scheduled to pay a visit to the AU headquarters and deliver a speech there to expound his country's Africa policy and reaffirm Beijing's commitment to deepening the new type of the China-Africa strategic partnership.
Upon his arrival, Li also spoke highly of the rapid development of the China-AU ties in recent years, as well as their close coordination and cooperation in international and regional issues. >>>More
Destinies of China, Africa closely linked: Chinese premier
Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here Sunday that China hopes to deepen friendly cooperation with Africa as the two have closely-linked destinies.
Li made the remarks when meeting the press together with his Ethiopian counterpart Hailemariam Desalegn after their talks.
At the current stage, China's relations with Ethiopia and Africa at large are both moving along the right track, said the Chinese leader.
On China-Africa ties, Li said, first, the two sides share closely-linked destinies.
China and Africa have always supported each other and treated each other as equals during the course of national liberalization and construction, Li noted, adding that "we believe Africa deserves an important place and should have an important role in the international political landscape."
Second, China and Africa are in pursuit of common development, Li said.
China is the world's largest developing country and Africa is the continent with the highest ratio of developing countries. The cooperation between the two will not only bring about mutually beneficial and win-win results, but also help promote world economic balance and inclusive growth, Li said.
Third, he said China and Africa are mutual-learning civilizations.
Both are time-honored civilizations with brilliant cultures, Li said, adding that mutual respect and learning between civilizations and cultures is conducive to diversity of world civilizations and multi-polarization.
China is ready to work with Ethiopia and all other countries in Africa to make sure China-Africa relations are accelerating on the right track so as to benefit China and Africa as well as the whole world, he said. >>>More
