Ethiopia and China enjoy longstanding and historic relations. The two countries established formal diplomatic relations in 1970 and marked the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties in 2020.
In May 2017, the relationship between Ethiopia and China elevated to a higher level of Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership (CSCP) giving their diplomatic ties a huge boost and paved the way for even a greater political, diplomatic, economic and people-to-people exchanges and connectivity between the two.
China is a major source of finance (capital/loan/grant) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for Ethiopia’s multifaceted developmental activities mainly in infrastructural developments, industrialization, agriculture, poverty alleviation, capacity building and so on and so forth.
Ethiopia is an active participant of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) through which it has boosted its industrialization, infrastructure, agricultural developments, cultural exchanges and people-to-people connectivity. Ethiopia also an active member of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and it plays a crucial role in fast-tracking cooperation in Policy Coordination, Infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, support in investments, cooperation in People-to-People and cultural exchanges between the horn of Africa and China.
The two countries have exchanged frequent high-level visits starting from Emperor Haileselassie (1971), the Late Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Melese Zenawi (1995, 2004, 2011), Former Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Dessalegn (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017), H.E. President Mr. Mulatu Teshome, PhD (2004, 2014, 2017), Deputy Prime Minister now also Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Demeke Mekonnen (2014, 2017), H.E Prime Minister Mr. Abiy Ahmed, PhD (2018, 2019) and many other high level Ethiopian Ministers visited the People’s Republic of China at various times on different occasions. On the Chinese side: Chinese Premier H.E Mr. Zhou Enlai (1964), Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister H.E Mr. Chen Qichen (1994), H.E President Mr. Jiang Zemin (1996), Premier of the State Council H.E Mr. Wen Jiabao (2003), Vice Premier H.E Mrs. Liu Yandong (2013), H.E Premier Mr. Li Keqiang (2014), Vice President H.E Mr. Li Yuan–Chao (2016), State Councilor H.E Mr. Yang Jiechi (2017), Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), H.E Mr. Li Zhanshu (2018), State Councilor and Foreign Minister H.E Wang Yi (2019, 2021, 2022) and many other high level Chinese Ministers visited Ethiopia at various times and occasions.
A large number of bilateral agreements and MOU’s have been signed between the two countries including Agreement for Economic and Technological Cooperation, Trade Agreement, Trade Protocol; Agreement on Trade, Economic and Technological Cooperation, Agreement for Mutual Promotion and Protection of Investment, Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, MOU on Air service, Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption for the Holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports, MOU between the Ministry of Defence of the FDRE and the Ministry of Defence of China, MOU on Cooperation within The framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative and many others.
