Ethiopia, China enjoy comprehensive, strategic economic cooperation: official

A locomotive is seen on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Aug 25, 2022. [Xinhua]

"We (Ethiopia and China) have a diversified and strategic cooperation in which China has provided technical support, capacity building in the agricultural sector and exploiting natural resources," Shide said.

According to the minister, China has been investing in existing industrial parks and setting up manufacturing plants both for domestic and international markets as more Chinese investors have been playing a visible role in Ethiopia's economic development.

He expressed his optimism that the partnership between the two countries will grow in volume, diversity and quality, creating a win-win result for both countries and their peoples.

"China has also played a pivotal role in regional integration through undertaking intra-state projects," Shide said, noting that the Addis Ababa and Djibouti railway and Ethiopia-Djibouti water projects are cases in point, with the potential of expansion to serve the whole region.

Commenting on China's rapid economic growth, the minister said "China was able to lift hundreds of millions of its citizens out of poverty and is significantly progressing in terms of the size and complexity of its GDP."