On December 1, 2021 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen in Addis Ababa during his working visit to Ethiopia after the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Wang Yi said, China and Ethiopia have a traditional friendship and the two sides have become comprehensive strategic partners. Through the test of international turbulence, relations between the two countries have not been disturbed by external factors or affected by domestic changes. China adheres to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs. We do not meddle in the internal affairs of Ethiopia, and we also oppose any external forces' interference in the internal affairs of Ethiopia, and in particular disagree with the practice of some external forces to pressure Ethiopia for their own political purposes. Wang Yi said, the current conflict in Ethiopia is the country's domestic issue in nature. I believe that Ethiopia has the ability and wisdom to resolve the conflict and achieve inclusiveness and stability by political means in accordance with the law. Peace talks are the real solution and the only correct choice. Tomorrow the United Nations General Assembly will review the adoption of a resolution on the Olympic Truce, which reflects the shared aspiration of people across the world for peace. I hope that all parties in Ethiopia will actively echo the resolution, stop the conflict as soon as possible and work for lasting peace. To this end, China, as a good friend of Ethiopia, is willing to play a constructive role if needed by Ethiopia on the premise of respecting the country's sovereignty.
Wang Yi said, there are still many Chinese institutions and citizens in Ethiopia, who come for the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and for helping Ethiopia with economic and social development. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have been always putting people first and exercising state power for the people. We care about the safety and well-being of all Chinese citizens abroad. We hope that Ethiopia will take all effective measures and make every effort to protect the personal safety of Chinese citizens and the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese institutions.
Noting that Ethiopia attaches great importance to the traditional friendship between the two countries and appreciates China's firm adherence to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, Demeke said, the Ethiopian government remains committed to a political solution to the conflict and opposes the interference in the internal affairs of Ethiopia by external forces under the pretext of so-called democracy and human rights.
Demeke stressed, Ethiopia places a high premium on China's safety concerns and will continue to adopt a responsible attitude, deploy security forces and strengthen control of the situation to protect the safety of Chinese citizens and ensure that they can work and live normally.
The two sides also exchanged views on China-Africa cooperation. Wang Yi said, the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC yielded fruitful results. In his important speech, President Xi Jinping announced a series of new and significant initiatives on China-Africa cooperation, which received unanimous support and enthusiastic response from all the participants. This will open up new prospects in China-Africa cooperation and also promote China's cooperation with Ethiopia in various fields. Demeke offered congratulations on the complete success of the conference, adding that it will further enhance Africa-China unity and friendship and strongly boost the mutually beneficial cooperation between Africa and China.
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