Ethiopian and Chinese presidents exchange messages to mark 40th anniversary of ties

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday exchanged congratulatory messages with Ethiopian President Girma Wolde-Giorgis to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In the message, Hu said the past 40 years had seen sound development and deepening of bilateral ties between China and Ethiopia despite various tests caused by the changing international and domestic situations. 

In the new century, the two countries established an all-around cooperative partnership on the basis of equality and mutual trust, Hu said, adding that bilateral cooperation in various fields had been fruitful, and the two countries have supported and closely coordinated with each other in international and regional issues.

Cooperation between China and Ethiopia within the framework of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation may well be considered a good example of South-South cooperation, Hu said.

The president also said that China is willing to join hands with Ethiopia to further deepen their traditional friendship, strengthen bilateral exchange and cooperation at all levels, boost their all-around cooperative partnership and the new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa.

Girma said that over the past 40 years, the two friendly countries have conducted fruitful cooperation of mutual benefit in various sectors and coordinated closely in international and regional affairs.

"The Ethiopian government will cherish the long-standing Ethio-China friendly cooperation and take the opportunity of this 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties to further consolidate and develop the traditional friendship as well as intensify and expand mutually beneficial friendly cooperation for the benefit of the two countries and people," he said.

On the same day, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also exchanged congratulatory messages with his Ethiopian counterpart Hailemariam Desalegn.