China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa on Jan. 8 to press for deeper ties across infrastructure, green industry and the digital economy. Both countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in traditional sectors such as trade, energy and transportation while expanding collaboration in e‑commerce, artificial intelligence and green energy. Wang's six‑day Africa tour — which continues to Somalia, Tanzania and Lesotho — is part of Beijing's broader push to upgrade Belt and Road partnerships and secure market access as Ethiopia aims for roughly 7.2% growth this year.
China, Ethiopia Pledge Deeper Ties From Infrastructure to AI as Wang Yi Begins Africa Tour
FILE PHOTO: China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers a speech at the ministerial conference of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, China September 3, 2024. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/Pool/File Photo
On Jan. 8, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa, urging closer cooperation between Beijing and one of Africa's fastest-growing economies across infrastructure, green industry and the digital economy.
According to China's Foreign Ministry, Wang — on his annual New Year tour of Africa — said China is prepared to better align development strategies with Ethiopia to elevate their "all‑weather strategic partnership." The meeting was the first stop of Wang's six‑day Africa visit.
Wang called for an accelerated upgrade of trade and economic ties and for advancing "high‑quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Africa," state news agency Xinhua reported. Beijing is highlighting partners it regards as models for President Xi Jinping's flagship Belt and Road programme while seeking expanded market access in fast-growing, increasingly affluent economies such as Ethiopia.
Areas of Cooperation
- Traditional sectors: Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, infrastructure, energy, transportation and legal exchanges.
- Emerging areas: They also pledged to broaden collaboration in e‑commerce, artificial intelligence and green energy.
- People‑to‑people ties: The two countries will expand cultural, tourism, media, education and think‑tank exchanges.
Wang said he hopes Ethiopia will provide "a sound environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and conduct business," and described Ethiopia as playing "an important role in regional and international affairs." The International Monetary Fund forecasts Ethiopian growth of about 7.2% this year, highlighting the market potential Beijing seeks to tap.
Wang's itinerary continues to Somalia, Tanzania and Lesotho before the trip concludes on Jan. 12. The visit forms part of a broader Chinese diplomatic and economic outreach across the continent, framed by state media as an effort to upgrade bilateral strategic partnerships and secure market access for Chinese firms.
Reporting by Shi Bu, Xiuhao Chen, Ryan Woo and the Shanghai newsroom; writing by Farah Master; editing by Andrew Heavens and Stephen Coates.
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