Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Thursday welcomed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Addis Ababa, the first stop on Wang’s New Year tour of Africa.
The two officials said they would deepen cooperation in areas including trade, infrastructure, energy and transportation. They also discussed possible collaboration in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence and green energy.
“Ethiopia and China have enjoyed a strong relationship for decades,” Ahmed said in a post on X, adding that both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing development.
China and Ethiopia elevated their ties in 2023, announcing an “all-weather strategic cooperation partnership.”
After Ethiopia, Wang is expected to visit Somalia, Tanzania and Lesotho as part of his tour of eastern and southern Africa.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the trip aims to strengthen political trust and deepen exchanges with African partners.
Wang’s planned visit to Somalia comes amid heightened regional tensions following Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland, a move that Mogadishu has strongly opposed.
China is Africa’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $296 billion in 2024, according to Chinese state media. Africa has been the destination of the Chinese foreign minister’s first overseas trip of the year for nearly four decades.