China keen to take Sino-Ethiopia relations to new height: envoy

China has expressed its commitment to taking bilateral relations with Ethiopia to a new height, the Chinese ambassador said.

Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia La Yifan stressed that Sino-Ethiopia relations have been flourishing, particularly, against the backdrop of the latest Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit held in Johannesburg last December.

The ambassador made the remarks in Addis Ababa Thursday at a welcoming reception to Counselor Liu Tao, a newly assigned Deputy Head of Mission of the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia.

Stating that Counselor Liu has good experience on African issues, the ambassador said Liu's appointment as a Deputy Head of Mission of the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia would give new impetus to the ever growing relations between the two countries.

Liu has been working on African issues since 15 years back, and the diplomat has also served at the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia for about four years from 2002 to 2006.

Liu has come to his new post at a critical moment when bilateral relations between China and Ethiopia are developing, and the two countries are working to make the blue print of the FOCAC summit a reality, said the ambassador.

Speaking on his part, Liu stated that Ethiopia has made a miracle economic development with two-digit gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the last decade, adding that China takes Ethiopia as one of key partners on the African continent.

"I feel honored and delighted to have another opportunity to serve as the first assistant to my ambassador and to make new contribution to the further development of the relationship between China and Ethiopia," said Liu. Endit