China, Ethiopia Relations in Field of Dev’t areas Close, Developing: Chinese Embassy

The relationship between China and Ethiopia especially in the fields of development areas is very close and under a steady development path, according to the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia.

Deputy Chief of Mission of Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, Shen Qinmin told ENA that China and Ethiopia have very good relations in many fields and it is especially very close in the fields of development areas.

“Our exchanges in the fields of political, diplomatic, and economic–especially in the fields of development area–it is very close and under steady development path,” Shen Qinmin said.

He believes the overall relations can also be improved further in the future. “It can be better. I hope, in the future, we will be better.”

According to him, the Chinese Government is strongly committed for the development of Ethiopia.

“In the future, we Chinese Government have a strong commitment to the development of Ethiopia,” the minister counselor said.

“The more prosperous of Ethiopia can be the better for not only Ethiopian people but also for the Chinese people because the more prosperity here we will have more opportunities for cooperation. So this is a mutually beneficial relationship both for now and also for the future.”

In response to the recent news that China has granted duty-free access for Ethiopian products to be exported to the Chinese market, he said the Chinese Government is opening more Chinese markets for Ethiopian products, especially agricultural products because these Ethiopian products are in high demand in China.

“We are opening more and more, of the Chinese market, for Ethiopia’s products. Ethiopia is so rich in a lot of products,” he said.

“These products are in high demand in China, especially agricultural products–very high demand in the Chinese market. So we hope to have a mutually beneficial economic cooperative relationship with Ethiopia. So that way, the farmers, and the workers here can get more money, can get higher salaries, and also can meet the demand of the Chinese market. So it is a mutually beneficial relationship.”

Ethiopian business people are asking for the details of the tariff-free products at the embassy and it is being explained to them, he said.

“Ethiopian friends are very smart, they already asked about the details of this trade arrangement from my embassy; I share information with them, specific information about which particular products are tariff-free to be imported to China. I think more and more businesses here and we will get more acquainted with that preferential treatment, then more products will go to China and this will also relieve some economic pain in certain sectors of industry here in Ethiopia.”

China will open more and more markets to Ethiopian products, he assured.

It is to be recalled that China has offered zero-tariff treatment to 98 percent of the tariff line, with 8,804 items of products originating from Ethiopia as of March 1, 2023.

This move is to implement the initiatives announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Opening Ceremony of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

The move will further strengthen the economic ties between China and Ethiopia, bringing benefits to both countries, it was learned.

Source: Ethiopia News agency