Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks in Beijing on Wednesday with his Ethiopian counterpart, Seyoum Mesfin.
Yang hailed the relationship between the two countries, saying it has witnessed continuous and rapid development in recent years.h With 2010 marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations, Yang said China hopes to boost cooperation with Ethiopia.
Yang expressed appreciation for Ethiopia's efforts to promote the building and development of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), noting that the Forum has become important to the development of the China-Africa relationship.
Seyoum said Ethiopia is ready to enhance coordination and collaboration with China and to contribute more to bilateral and Africa-China relations.
He said the Forum plays an important role in promoting solidarity and cooperation between China and African countries, facilitating development in African countries.
The Ethiopian government appreciates the long-standing support extended by China for its social and economic development, Seyoum said.
The two also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern during the talks.
The FOCAC, a collective consultation and dialogue mechanism between China and African countries launched in 2000, is the first of its kind in the history of Sino-African relations.
