Reception Marks 30 Years of Sino-Ethiopian TiesThe Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Ethiopian embassy in China held a reception November 24 to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between China and Ethiopia.Speaking at the occasion, CPAFFC's Secretary General Wei Dong said that China and Ethiopia enjoy a traditional friendship, and the two countries have maintained cooperative relations in politics, economy, trade and culture since they forged diplomatic ties on November 24, 1970. China appreciates Ethiopia's support on major issues including Taiwan and human rights, Wei said. The Chinese government and the Chinese people will continue to promote peace and development of mankind with the Ethiopian people as well as people of the other parts of the world, in the spirit of the Beijing Declaration and the Program for China-Africa Cooperation in Economic and Social Development passed during China- Africa Cooperation Forum in October this year, he said. Ethiopian ambassador to China, Addis Alem Balema, said China is on Ethiopia's side in its struggle against foreign aggression. Ethiopia, for its part, has "always supported China's national unity agenda based on the 'One China' policy", he said. Balema said government to government relations between Ethiopia and China, highlighted by the visits of Chinese President Jiang Zemin to Ethiopia and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to China, have served as a "strong basis for the expansion of cooperation in the fields of economic and social development." Present at the reception were Jing Shuping, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Ma Wenpu, deputy head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) Central Committee, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Guchang and diplomats from the Ethiopian embassy. |
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