Samuel Fitsum-Birhan, Director for China of the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed that the sale of national agricultural and mining products in the Chinese market is gaining momentum, although imports from China exceed the volume of exports.

In order to balance this deficit, China supports Ethiopia in added value and the training of human resources, the latter of great importance for the development of Ethiopian workforce, according to The Ethiopian Herald newspaper.

Fitsum-Birhan stressed that in view of strengthening existing trade relations and expansions into other areas, both countries are working in the diplomatic arena and, in the case of Ethiopia, they are preparing to take advantage of the duty-free opportunity decision offered by China recently.

To consolidate ties between both peoples, cultural exchange is also promoted through training and education in Chinese language at the Confucius Center of the University of Addis Ababa, as well as Amharic in various centers and universities in China, the officer said.

Fitsum-Birhan confirmed that Chinese foreign direct investment is the largest, particularly in manufacturing sectors, that is why the national government modified some policies with the purpose of attracting more capital.

He mentioned changes that will allow Chinese investors to join Ethiopian industrial parks, as well as to encourage them in establishing similar facilities so as to contribute to the growth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

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