Chinese Goods, Technology and Services Expo（Africa） & China - Ethiopia Business Forum, hosted by China Ministry of Commerce, opens in Addis Ababa on December 5, 2013. Mr. Gao Hucheng, China Minister of Commerce, Mr. Justin Yifu Lin, vice President of the All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce, Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, Ethiopian Prime Minister and Mr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission all sent a congratulatory letter to the event.

In his letter of congratulations, Minister Gao Hucheng said that China-Africa Relations, as an important component of international relations, have a deep and profound influence and arouse worldwide attentions. Over recent years, Both China and African countries have enjoyed a rapid economic growth. At present, China-African countries are faced with new and great cooperation opportunities.

China would like to push forward with African countries to strengthen the achievements of China-Africa Cooperation Forum, seek development opportunities, identify starting points for mutual benefits, enhance the comprehensive, coordinative and sustainable development of China-Africa cooperation and continue to enrich the contents of New-Type China-Africa Strategic Partnership.

Minister Gao Hucheng said that, Chinese Goods, Technology and Services Expo（Africa）, under the framework of China-Africa Cooperation Forum, is of great significance in boosting the overall cooperation between China and African countries and improving China-Africa Strategic Partnership. He also hoped that, the business circle from both sides could hold in-depth discussions to explore the modes and approaches for bilateral pragmatic cooperation and implement the consensus reached by the country leaders from both sides on enhancing sustainable and further development of the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said in his congratulatory letter that Ethiopia is China’s long-term and reliable cooperation partner. He hoped that this event could serve as as important platform for China-Ethipia bilateral cooperation to further promote the communication and cooperation between the business circles of both sides and realize win-win cooperation.

In his congratulatory letter, Mr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission said that, China’s rapid development has provided unprecedented opportunities for Africa. He hoped that this event could serve as a platform for the communication and cooperation between China and African countries, enhance more Chinese enterprises, technologies and investment to come to Africa so as to be mutually complementary and realize mutual development.

Mr. Xie Xiaoyan, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia and Mr. Sisay Gemechu, Ethiopian State Minister of Industry also attended the opening ceremony.