Brhane Gebrekirstos, the newly appointed Ethiopian Ambassador to China

Ethiopia has appointed Brhane Gebrekirstos as the next ambassador to the Peoples’ Republic of China.

Ethiopia’s President Doctor Mulatu Tehome announced that Brehane’s appointment as ambassador to Beijing-at large for better strengthening the country’s strategic relationship with China.

Ambassador Brhane Gebrekristos is currently serving as Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn’s Special Envoy to foreign mission since last year.

He also served as State Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2010 to 2015.

From 2002 to 2010, Berhane served as Ambassador of Ethiopia to the European Union and the Benelux which includes the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

From1992 to 2002, he served as Ethiopia's Ambassador to the United States.

China's Eastern Industrial Zone in Ethiopian

Brehane will replace Seyuom Mesfin, who served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to China for the last six years.

During the Belt and Road Forum which was held in Beijing last May, China and Ethiopia have elevated their partnership to a strategic higher level that makes Ethiopia the first African country to enter into a strategic partnership with China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minster Hailemariam Desalegn have reiterated their effervescent diplomatic ties in their discussion including the cooperation agreement that allows the two countries to work and share experience on humanitarian issues.

Ethiopia and China have also signed economic cooperation agreements translating into substantial works and various Chinese companies that have invested in Ethiopia created job opportunities for many.

The appointment of senior diplomats to an ambassadorship in China will further boost bilateral cooperation of the two countries to an advanced echelon.

Chinese shoemaker Hujian investment expansion project in Ethiopia

China takes Ethiopia as the gateway to Africa and more than 80 percent of China’s connections to Africa are being conducted through Ethiopian Airlines, which is playing key role in linking China with Africa.

Considering the potential of the airline, China has decided to make Addis Ababa for its aviation core and Ethiopia has become a pilot country and hub to many of the projects envisaged and launched by China.

Moreover, Ethiopia is a pilot country for the industry production capacity cooperation aimed to move Chinese manufacturers to Africa, and the Djibouti-Dakar railway system connects East and West Africa periphery that commenced with the Ethio-Djibouti railway line.

Having a former Minister and wide range of diplomatic experience in the role of ambassadorship will raise Ethio-China cooperation a step-forward.

Local employees working in Huajian Shoe Factory in Ethiopia

Ethiopia and China have started economic relations about 100 B.C when the Han Dynasty of China and the Axumite Empire of Ethiopia had trade exchanges.

Nevertheless the two countries had made official relationship when they opened embassies in their respective capitals in 1970.

Currently their relationship has reached a greater height over the past two decades and the bilateral relation is comprehensive and upholding the economic growth of both countries promising.

Getachew Yalew is Senior-Editor for Ethiopian News Agency in Ethiopia. He is currently on media attachment with China Daily.