Speech by CIDCA Chairman Luo Zhaohui at the Online Signing Ceremony

Speech by CIDCA Chairman Luo Zhaohui

at the Online Signing Ceremony

(February 19, Beijing)

Your Honorable Mr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister,

Your Excellency Melaku Alebel, Minister of Industry,

Your Excellency Müller, Director General of UNIDO,

Ladies and gentlemen, 

It is my great pleasure to meet you all online at this historic moment. We are going to sign two important documents. One opens a new chapter for trilateral cooperation among CIDCA, UNIDO and Ethiopia. The other is to enhance bilateral interaction between CIDCA and UNIDO for comprehensive cooperation under the framework of GDI.

We are grateful for PM Abiy to witness today's ceremony from his busy schedule. China attaches great importance to our bilateral relations, and cherishes our close friendship. Our bilateral development cooperation has made tremendous progress under the guidance of our leaders. In recent years, China has implemented over 120 assistance projects for Ethiopia in various areas, and more than 10 projects are in the process of advancing.

I would also like to thank DG Müller for his contribution to enhance UNIDO's cooperation with CIDCA. Without his leadership and efforts, our trilateral cooperation would be impossible. In recent years, CIDCA and UNIDO have signed two documents and launched successfully several Global Development Fund-supported projects.

Based on our goodwill, sincerity, close cooperation and long-time friendship, today we combine three bilateral relationships with a new trilateral circle. This is a strong combination with great significance.

Firstly, our trilateral cooperation aims to accelerate the GDI and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It will also support the upcoming UN Summit of the Future and FOCAC Beijing summit. 

Secondly, it aims to improve China's relations with Ethiopia as well as Ethiopia’s development strategy of industrial and agricultural planning. Of course, it's a great chance to enhance CIDCA's relationship with UNIDO.

Thirdly, it aims to help socio-economic development of the African continent. It's also a new way to implement the Initiative on Supporting Africa's Industrialization and the Plan for China Supporting Africa's Agricultural Modernization announced by President Xi Jinping last August.

Plans, roadmaps, strategies are already on the table. What we are going to do next is to translate documents into visible results. No talkshop and action is a must. We are ready to work together and optimistic.

Thank you.