Top news items of major Ethiopian media outlets

The following are news highlights of major Ethiopia's media outlets on Wednesday.

-- Ethiopia and Russia have agreed to cement their bilateral ties and cooperation on continental peace and security issues.

A high level Ethiopian government delegation led by Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen is on a working visit to the Russian Federation.

The Ethiopian delegation has discussed with Russian officials on current bilateral ties between the two countries as well as on cooperation on continental and global issues, including peace and security. (Fana Braodcasting Corporate/FBC)

-- The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said Ethiopia is close to sign Labor Exchange Agreements with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that enables the country to protect the rights and benefits of its domestic workers.

Director of Middle East Affairs with the ministry Ambassador Siraj Reshid told ENA that consensus on major terms of the agreements is reached with the two largest Ethiopian labor hiring countries.

The government of Ethiopia stopped sending of unskilled labor to all Middle East countries in October 2013 after mass deportation of citizens. (Ethiopian News Agency/ENA)

-- Ministries of Finance of Ethiopia and Sudan have agreed to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.

Sudan's Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Badr-Eddin Mahmoud, has affirmed his country's keenness to strengthen economic ties with Ethiopia and to employ the opportunities of coordination in the field of joint ventures and the projects of linkage through roads and railways for the benefit of the two countries.

The Sudanese minister expressed, during a meeting Sunday at his office with the Ethiopian Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation, Abdulaziz Mohamed, Sudan's desire to increase the electricity import from Ethiopia and benefiting from the increase Ethiopia's electricity production. (Fana Broadcasting Corporate/FBC) Endit