China pledges food, funds to key Horn of Africa partner Ethiopia
- Beijing ‘considering’ sending more emergency aid to the drought-stricken region, Qin Gang tells his Ethiopian counterpart
- Chinese foreign minister also reiterates support for the peace process and reconstruction of the war-torn country
In a meeting with Ethiopia’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, Qin said China had already delivered two batches of food aid to the region and was “considering providing a new batch … to help countries alleviate their urgent needs”.
Qin also said China supported the Ethiopian peace process and “is willing to deepen cooperation between the two countries in various fields to help Ethiopia’s post-war reconstruction, development and revitalisation”.
“Ethiopia is in a critical period of consolidating peace and focusing on development,” he said. Qin pledged China’s help to rehabilitate and rebuild infrastructure destroyed by the hostilities that ended in November after two years of fighting.
Qin also expressed China’s gratitude for the Ethiopian government’s support and help in evacuating its citizens from Sudan, and for rescuing Chinese nationals who were robbed and detained in Ethiopia.
He hoped the Ethiopian government “will take effective measures to protect the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese institutions and personnel”, Qin told Demeke, who is on a five-day official visit to China.
