Ethiopia among Most Economically Dynamic Countries in Africa: Chinese Ambassador

Addis Ababa, August 19, 2026 (ENA) —Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Chen Hai described Ethiopia as one of the most economically dynamic countries in Africa, noting that the country has been continuously easing access for foreign investment and actively promoting export diversification.

Addressing the “Big Market for All: Export to China” Ethiopia session held in Addis Ababa today, the ambassador said China is Ethiopia’s largest trading partner and a major source of investment.

“China has been continuously opening up its market to Ethiopia by extending zero tariff treatment and introducing a series of trade facilitation measures to transform its tax related reduction arrangements for Ethiopia into tangible, accessible and beneficial outcomes,” he emphasized.

 

According to the ambassador, these policies help Ethiopian small and medium sized enterprises lower market access costs and enable more Ethiopian products to enter the Chinese market.

He further elaborated that the measures are contributing to the balanced development of bilateral trade and encouraging Chinese and other international investors to increase investment in Ethiopia’s competitive industries.

Enhancing the competitiveness and reputation of Ethiopian products, enabling them to compete more effectively in global markets, and supporting Ethiopia’s agricultural modernization and industrialization are also among the priorities, Ambassador Hai underscored.

China and Ethiopia have also maintained effective multilateral economic and trade coordination and cooperation, jointly promoting what he described as true multilateralism.

 

The ambassador highlighted China’s support for Ethiopia’s accession to BRICS and said China has completed bilateral negotiations on Ethiopia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which he said would help Ethiopia further integrate into the global economic system.

Last year, China launched a series of activities under the themes “Sharing the Big Market” and “Exporting to China,” aimed at creating a national level import promotion brand and making China’s large consumer market a more accessible market for countries around the world, according to the ambassador.

The initiative reflects China’s efforts to expand opening up, increase imports and promote more balanced trade growth, he added.

 

“Today’s Ethiopian session demonstrates China’s emphasis on the bilateral relationship, its confidence in the potential of Ethiopia’s economic growth and our bilateral economic and trade cooperation,” the ambassador said.

He reaffirmed China’s willingness to strengthen policy alignment and industrial cooperation with Ethiopia, further tap the potential of bilateral trade and jointly build a closer supply chain partnership.