A Delegation from Jiangsu Province visited Ethiopia to Strengthen Collaboration under the High-quality Belt and Road Initiative, Aiming to Make Greater Contributions to Deepening China-Africa Cooperat

On November 14 (local time), a Jiangsu Province delegation visited Ethiopia to implement key agreements reached by Chinese and Ethiopian leaders and to further promote Jiangsu-Ethiopia cooperation. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met with Jiangsu Governor Xu Kunlin and his delegation. During the visit, Xu Kunlin attended the Jiangsu-Africa (Ethiopia) Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum and the Jiangsu-Africa Vocational Education Cooperation Forum.

Abiy expressed a warm welcome to Xu Kunlin and his delegation. He pointed out that China has provided strong support for Ethiopia's economic and social development. Jiangsu is an important province in China, and Ethiopia hopes to deepen its friendship with Jiangsu and strengthen ties. Ethiopia looks forward to more practical cooperation projects in areas such as industry, agriculture, science and technology, and tourism. The goal is to promote the integration of infrastructure construction with industrial development, benefiting both peoples. Ethiopia also hopes that more Jiangsu companies will invest in Ethiopia, helping the country better achieve its development vision. Xu Kunlin thanked Abiy for the warm reception. He said that in recent years, guided by the China-Ethiopia all-weather strategic partnership, Jiangsu and Ethiopia have carried out a series of exchanges and cooperation. We look forward to actively advancing people-to-people exchanges under the Belt and Road Initiative, building a “friendship bridge”, promoting economic and trade cooperation to create a “development engine”, and advancing livelihood projects to build a “happy home”, jointly writing a new chapter of cooperation and mutual benefit.

Deepening cooperation for shared development and advancing modernization together were key themes of the Jiangsu-Africa (Ethiopia) Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum held that afternoon. Over 200 business representatives attended the event, following a photo exhibition showcasing Jiangsu-Africa collaboration. During the forum, Xu Kunlin stated that Jiangsu is steadfastly implementing Chinese modernization under President Xi Jinping’s guidance, while Africa progresses towards the AU’s “Agenda 2063” modernization goals. Over the next three years, Jiangsu plans to undertake 70 cooperative projects in six key fields, including trade, technology, and agriculture. Xu Kunlin expressed hopes to use the forum to implement outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, deepen multi-channel, in-depth partnerships, expand reciprocal trade cooperation, seize Belt and Road investment opportunities, and enhance green industrial and cultural exchanges. These efforts aim to contribute to stronger China-Africa friendship and a shared future. Ethiopia’s Finance Minister Ahmed Shide noted the country's efforts to create a more attractive business environment and welcomed further investment from Jiangsu and other Chinese enterprises. After the forum, Xu Kunlin met with Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abebe to discuss urban transformation, industrial park development, and collaborative projects.

Part of Photo Exhibition of Jiangsu-Africa Exchange and Cooperation (Left)[Photo/Lu Yufei]

Part of Three-year Action Plan for Cooperation between African Counties and Jiangsu (Right)[Photo/Lu Yufei]

Vocational education is an important bridge and bond for continuing the traditional friendship between China and Africa. At the Jiangsu-Africa Vocational Education Cooperation Forum, Xu Kunlin stated that Jiangsu, as one of the main provinces for African students studying in China, has seen a thriving collaboration with Africa in vocational education in recent years. Africa has also become a key region for Jiangsu’s higher vocational colleges to set up overseas campuses. We will deepen the implementation of the “Future African Vocational Education” plan, expand and enhance cooperation in areas such as teaching (and research) cooperation, student exchange, faculty training, and talent development. We will promote international exchange platforms for vocational education such as the “Luban Workshop”, make full use of overseas educational institutions and projects like the Zheng He College, and focus on improving the effectiveness of talent cultivation and technological innovation cooperation. Our aim is to train more ambassadors for China-Africa friendly exchanges, contribute to the high-quality and high-level development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and make greater contributions to leading the modernization of the Global South. In a video speech, Takheza, Director of the Zambia Vocational and Technical Education Bureau, expressed his expectation to further strengthen cooperation and exchange between universities and relevant departments, and accelerate the improvement of vocational and technical education quality. At the conference, the achievements of Jiangsu-Africa vocational education cooperation were announced. The China Education Association for International Exchange’s Vocational Education Branch signed cooperation agreements with the African Association of Technical and Applied Universities and Colleges, the Nanjing Industrial Vocational and Technical College and the Ethiopian Federal Vocational Training Institute, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology and the University of Dire Dawa in Ethiopia, as well as Hawassa University. The Nanjing Industrial Vocational and Technical College South Africa Branch, the Changzhou Electromechanical Vocational and Technical College’s Ethiopia Eastern Industrial Park Zheng He College were also inaugurated.

Governor Xu Kunlin delivered speech at the Jiangsu-Africa Vocational Education Cooperation Forum[Photo/Lu Yufei]

Two China-Ethiopia joint educational institutions held unveiling ceremonies at the Jiangsu-Africa Vocational Education Cooperation Forum[Photo/Lu Yufei]

The delegation visited Friendship Square and the Chaka Project, and also visited the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia. Xu Kunlin had a discussion with Ambassador Chen Hai, expressing gratitude for the embassy's care and support for the friendly exchanges between Jiangsu and Ethiopia, and engaged in an in-depth discussion on further deepening cooperation between the two regions.

Officials from relevant departments of Ethiopia, South Africa, and Zambia, officials from the African Union Commission, as well as permanent representatives of some African countries to the African Union, and Lv Deming, Secretary-General of the Provincial Government, attended the related events.

Source: https://www.jiangsu.gov.cn/art/2024/11/16/art_84322_11420901.html

Translated by Lu Yufei