Ethiopia, China Deepen All-Weather Partnership as Lawmakers Push Stronger Ties

Addis Ababa, May 12, 2026 —Ethiopia and China have reaffirmed their growing strategic partnership, with senior officials from both countries describing their relationship as a model of reliable development cooperation anchored in mutual trust and long-term collaboration.

Speaking during high-level talks between Ethiopia’s House of People’s Representatives of and a visiting delegation from National People's Congress of China, Chairperson of the Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs Standing Committee, Dima Negewo, said the two nations’ all-weather strategic partnership has transformed Ethiopia and China into dependable development allies.

 

Since upgrading their diplomatic ties to an “all-weather strategic partnership” in 2023, Ethiopia and China have continued to expand cooperation across bilateral, regional, and multilateral platforms while maintaining consistent political support for one another.

Dima reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to the One-China policy and highlighted the country’s gains under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, including the landmark Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway.

He noted that China has become a major destination for Ethiopia’s agricultural, mineral, and textile exports, while Chinese foreign direct investment in Ethiopia has reached 5 billion U.S. dollars, generating more than 560,000 jobs through over 2,000 active projects.

Highlighting the strength of South-South cooperation and broader Forum on China-Africa Cooperation engagement, Dima said Ethiopia has created a favorable investment environment and remains committed to attracting more foreign investors.

He also stressed that continued dialogue and experience-sharing between the two legislatures are essential to strengthening institutional relations and expanding people-to-people ties, particularly in tourism by leveraging both nations’ rich cultural and heritage assets.

Leading the Chinese delegation, Chairperson of the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee of the National People’s Congress and head of the delegation, Luo Shugang,  said he was pleased to visit Addis Ababa and praised the deepening relationship between the two countries.

 

 

He said both nations are rich in cultural heritage and emphasized that growing cooperation between their legislative institutions remains critical to sustaining broader bilateral ties.

Luo also noted that relations between Abiy Ahmed and Xi Jinping have helped elevate bilateral relations to a new level, with both countries continuing to support each other in international and multilateral forums.

He added that China remains committed to accelerating the implementation of signed agreements and ensuring momentum in bilateral cooperation continues.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Human Resource, Employment and Technology Affairs Standing Committee, Negeri Lencho, highlighted Ethiopia’s ongoing political, economic, and social reforms, saying the country has prioritized digital transformation, improved public service delivery, and expanded democratic participation over the past eight years.