ADDIS ABABA — More than 100 Chinese companies are participating in an expo dubbed 2014 (Africa) China Commodities, Technology & Services Expo displaying Chinese products in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.

The Expo has been organized by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce with a view of enhancing business cooperation between China, Ethiopia, and other African nations.

The three-day Expo on Nov 10-12 is concurring with China- Ethiopia Industry & Commerce Cooperation Forum, which is expected to provide face-to-face communications opportunities for exhibitors and purchasers as well as a platform for information and technology exchanges.

The Expo is expected to promote sound development of bilateral and multilateral business relations.

Speaking at the opening of the Expo, Xie Xiaoyan, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, said the Expo helps further promote the exchanges and cooperation between the business communities from China, Ethiopia, and other African nations.

Xie stated that China and Ethiopia have been strengthening their overall cooperation and friendship.

He said the two countries have been enjoying strong economy and trade bilateral cooperation.

“Our countries have made many fruitful achievements through cooperation in politics, economy, trade, culture, education science and technology etcetera. Ethiopia is China’s important strategic partner in Africa,” said the ambassador.

Xie recalled that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang made visits to African countries including Ethiopia in May this year and that the Premier proposed six areas to actively promote cooperation between China and Africa.

The Premier proposed to actively promote cooperation in six areas including industry, finance, poverty reduction, environmental protection, cultural exchanges and peace and security, said the ambassador.

The ambassador said the 2014 (Africa) China Commodities, Technology & Services Expo would contribute share to further strengthen the cooperation and relations between businesses in China and Africa.

Tadesse Haile, Ethiopian State Minister of Industry, noted that Ethiopia and China are enjoying excellent bilateral relations.

The two countries share many interlinked and similar ideas toward accelerated and sustainable economic development, said the State Minister.

He stated that Ethiopia is in the last year of the implementation period of the five-year growth and transformation plan (GTP) and heading to the second GTP whereby the country lays strong foundation to transform its economy to achieve the middle-income economy status by the year 2025 through accelerated and sustainable economic development.

The State Minister noted that his country draws lesson from China, which the official called on to further strengthen cooperation in infrastructure and industrial development toward competitive and sustainable economic development.

As Ethiopia makes endeavor to transform its economy, Tadesse said “emphasis will be given to the development of various infrastructures, infrastructural activities such as roads, railway, telecom, power and human resource development.”

Tadesse also noted that the Expo would be a platform for business and cooperation between China and Africa.

“The rapid development of China has provided unprecedented opportunity for Ethiopia and Africa; and we need to capitalize on this,” he said.

With the opening of the 2014 (Africa) China Commodities, Technology & Services Expo, “more Chinese enterprises are expected to be attracted to Africa with technologies and investments,” he said.

Stating that his company is engaged in construction of power transmission lines in Ethiopia, Xiong Feng, General Manager of the Engineering Department of State Grid Corporation of China, said the Expo provides the opportunity to promote their quality business to customers.

Jia Chen, CEO of ZTE Ethiopia, said his company is participating in such Expo for the second time when ZTE has started to expand its business scope.

Recalling that ZTE has been in Ethiopia for telecom expansion projects, Jia said ZTE is now focusing on smart city solution, which the Chinese telecom company promotes to visitors at the 2014 (Africa) China Commodities, Technology & Services Expo.

“Today, we would like to show to customers about our smart city solution; smart education; and smart everything; the solution, especially to show the functionality; for the future a kind of smart city; smart traffic control to the customers,” said Jia.