Ambassadors, Sudanese Delegates Join Nationwide Tree Seedlings Planting Campaign

Addis Ababa ENA July 29/2019 Ambassadors residing in Addis Ababa and a delegation from neighboring Sudan have planted tree seedlings joining the nationwide campaign initiated by the premier to plant 200 million seedlings today.

A 26-person delegation from neighboring Sudan planted seedlings in a military camp at Genda Wuha city of western Gondar Zone in the Amhara Regional State.

Representative of the Ministry of Agriculture of Gadarif State, Abdul Mensur said Sudan will make use of Ethiopia’s example in planting 200 million trees within a day to combat desertification.

The participation of Sudanese in the campaign will strengthen social, economic and political relations of the two countries, he added.

Meanwhile, resident ambassadors of Norway, Russia and China have also planted tree seedlings in and around their premises to show solidarity for the national campaign.

Norway’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Merete Lundemo and staff of the embassy planted 145 seedlings “in just 10 minutes.”

“I think there is a lot of power when people go ahead and do things,” she said, adding that “that is what we have seen today. Everybody had gone out and they have just planted.”

Lundemo noted that going for the higher number of trees to be planted as well as results to be achieved has mobilized a larger number of people to take part in the national campaign.

According to her, Norway supports climate and forest programs of Ethiopia. “They are part of a long-term commitment with a larger investment.”

There is great commitment on the Ethiopian side, Lundemo stated, and added “I expect that will continue.”

Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Evgeny Terekhin said on his part the campaign will have a tremendous role to reinforce the unity and coexistence of the people of Ethiopia.

Supporting the initiative, the staff of Russian Embassy in Addis Ababa has today planted over 100 seedlings in its premises, the ambassador added.

Ambassador Terekhin told ENA that the initiative made by Prime Minister Abiy would even further cement unity and reinforces the spirit of teamwork among the people of the country.

Moreover, the initiative has a profound positive impact on mitigating the climate change, he noted.

Similarly, staff members of the Chinese Embassy have planted over 10 tree seedlings.

Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Tan Jian said on the occasion the trees are symbols of the growing bilateral relationship between China and Ethiopia.

China and Ethiopia are cooperating on green development initiatives.