On 2 August 2022 the Embassy in Beijing facilitated a virtual discussion where Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Institute (IFA) and the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) held their first discussion successfully.
While chairing the meeting, Ambassador Teshome Toga noted that Ethiopia and China enjoy a strong diplomatic relationship that has spanned over half a century and recalled that both countries elevated their diplomatic ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership (CSCP) level in 2017. He added that the cultural and people-to-people exchange program is one of the nine major cooperation areas identified on the 8th Forum of China Africa Cooperation ministerial conference which was held last year in Senegal, Dakar. And within this framework, he called on both institutes to focus their cooperation on joint research initiatives, information, publications and experience exchanges, and holding joint dialogues. He also reassured that the embassy will always provide all the necessary assistance to both institutes.
Dr. Desalegn Ambaw, Executive Director of IFA thanked the embassy for taking the initiative and facilitating this virtual discussion and he noted that the two well experienced institutions have a great potential to contribute for mutual benefit of the two countries. Dr. Desalegn expressed that IFA is ready and committed to bring its partnership with CPIFA to fruition.
Ambassador Li Jie, Vice President of CPIFA on his part noted that China attaches greater importance to the diplomatic relationship it has with Ethiopia and highlighted on Ethiopia’s key role when it comes to Africa China cooperation. He added that CPIFA will stay committed and ready to make its partnership with IFA a reality. Furthermore, the Ambassador deeply thanked Ethiopian Airlines for continuing flights and connecting Africa and China during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic which was a very challenging time. He also noted that Ethiopian Airlines is a trusted carrier by the Chinese government.
