Chinese envoy to Ethiopia eyes enhanced Sino-Ethiopia cooperation

La Yifan, the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, said he would be committed with his mission to boosting economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

While making sure the progress on the overall relations between Ethiopia and China, the ambassador said he would work with focus on ensuring the comprehensive relations and cooperation between Ethiopia and China would go to a new height.

The ambassador made the remarks on Thursday during his maiden press conference after presenting his letter of credence to Ethiopia's President Mulatu Teshome in Addis Ababa, capital of the East African nation.

With the support from the people and government of Ethiopia, La said he would work relentlessly together with colleagues at the Chinese mission to take the comprehensive relations and cooperation between Ethiopia and China to a new height.

Based on the overall framework of bilateral relations laid down by the leaders of the two countries, Ethiopia and China have been enjoying excellent diplomatic relations, noted the ambassador.

"I believe I should focus on the economic and trade relations and cooperation between our two countries. Ethiopia has already been designated as a priority destination of the Chinese investment in areas of manufacturing, infrastructure, and poverty alleviation," he said.

La noted that China has excessive industry capacities that need to be relocated elsewhere in the world.

The ambassador also expressed his country's keen interest to strengthen cooperation with Ethiopia on industrialization.

He also noted that the two countries have achieved a lot in the manufacturing sector with a number of success stories such as in shoe making factory, textile industry, and food processing industry.

"We believe Ethiopia is good destination for the Chinese investment. On the trade area, of course our trade has been increasing in terms of doubling and tripling over the past few decades. Nowadays, the total trade volume stood at 3.4 billion U.S. dollars every year," he said.

The ambassador said China wants to import more goods from Ethiopia into its market towards raising Ethiopia's export to China, adding he would be committed, during his tenure, to the accomplishment of his mission towards boosting the cooperation between the two countries, especially in the areas of industrialization and infrastructure development.

La said he would work further towards attracting more Chinese investors to Ethiopia that they participate in different sectors including among others in the industrialization and infrastructure development of Ethiopia. Endi