Addis Ababa: The Forum on Africa-China Cooperation (FOCAC) is serving as best platform for fostering cooperation between Africa and China through various engagements, said Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A high level conference on revisiting Ethiopia’s role in the FOCAC and the way forward was held in Addis Ababa.
In his opening remarks, Head of the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Eshete Tilahun said FOCAC has proven to be an effective and strong platform for promoting Africa-China cooperation by supporting critical infrastructural projects.
The FOCAC is a platform established by China and friendly African countries for collective consultation and dialogue as a cooperation mechanism among developing countries, it was learned.
The characteristics of the forum are twofold including strengthening consultation and expanding cooperation within a pragmatic framework, as well as promoting political dialogue and economic cooperation with a view to seeking mutual reinforcement and coo
peration.
In the past two decades, FOCAC is instrumental in promoting Africa-China cooperation by supporting critical infrastructure development to engender greater connectivity, boosting trade activities, attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and unleashing entrepreneurships, Ambassador Eshete said.
Since its inception in 2000, the forum has contributed conducting open dialogue and insightful discussion to ensure mutual trust.
On his part, Director General of Asia and Pacific Affairs at Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) Anteneh Getachew said the forum has emerged as a key player in promoting trade, investment and people to people relations with China.
Ethiopia’s collaboration with FOCAC is crucial, he said, adding that the conference organized to chart out future area of cooperation and strengthen Ethiopia’s leadership in the Forum on Africa-China Cooperation.
Minister Counselor of Commerce at Chinese Embassy, Yang Yihang said Ethiopia is playing important role in FOCAC and numerous Chinese compan
ies have invested in various sector in Ethiopia.
It was indicated at the occasion that the successful completion of the Ethio- Djibouti railway project and its ongoing operation is one of the forum’s early achievements in creating continental integration in Africa.
The high level conference was organized by Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) in collaboration with the Embassy of China in Addis Ababa.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency