Ethiopian Premier Meles met with the visiting Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming on January 11.

Chen said that this year marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Ethiopia. The two countries have been on good terms all the time. And recently, the bilateral cooperation in economy and trade was enhancing. In the first 11 months of 2009, the bilateral trade rose by 12.4% despite the effects of the international financial crisis. Recently, China announced eight new measures on the cooperation with Africa at the just closed Fourth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). China was willing to promote the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and take it to a higher landing by taking advantage of implementing such measures. We welcomed Ethiopian enterprises to come to China and further explore Chinese Market, and encourage Chinese enterprises to increase investment in Ethiopia. We also would like to enhance cooperation with Ethiopia in finding solutions for climate change, and in developing low-carbon economy and personnel training.

Meles expressed grand welcome for Chinese delegation to visit Ethiopia as soon as the 4th FOCAC Ministerial Conference had been concluded. He said that Beijing Summit of FOCAC vigorously promoted the development of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation. And the success the 4th FOCAC Ministerial Conference would boost the friendly cooperation between China and Africa a father step. Currently, the comprehensive cooperation of China and Ethiopia was promising, which played an important role in Ethiopian economy. Ethiopia hoped that both sides could jointly make good plans to further enlarge the mutual trade and promote the investment cooperation in the infrastructure and manufacturing. Ethiopia was willing to provide more attractive investment environment for Chinese enterprises.