China, Ethiopia step up cooperation

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-11-2008 08:25

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has met Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. At their talks in Addis Ababa. They agreed to step up co-operation and to contribute to the Sino-African friendship.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has met Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. At their talks in Addis Ababa. They agreed to step up cooperation and to contribute to the Sino-African friendship.

Meanwhile, in other developments, Yang got together with top officials from the African Union.

During a meeting with Yang Jiechi, Meles Zenawi said Ethiopia and China have enjoyed excellent relations and maintained close exchanges over the past years.

Meles thanked China for offering Ethiopia considerable aid projects and debt relief and zero tariff treatment. He says China's help plays an active role in boosting Ethiopia's economic and social development.

He also praised the 2006 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which improves the future development of Africa-China ties.

Yang Jiechi says Ethiopia is an influential African country and is China's major cooperative partner in Africa. He says China's pledge to increase assistance to Ethiopia has been implemented in an active way and China will work with Ethiopia to further expand bilateral cooperation.

Also on Thursday, Yang Jiechi met with the chairman of the African Union commission, Alpha Oumar Konare.