A reception was held Friday to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Ethiopia.

Addressing the reception, Wang Yunze, vice president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), said that the people of China and Ethiopia enjoy profound friendship. Since the forging of diplomatic ties 35 years ago, the two countries have conducted fruitful cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, trade and culture.

As China's non-governmental friendship organization, CPAFFC and the China-Africa Friendship Association have been working hard to promote the friendly relations among China and African countries including Ethiopia, Wang said.

"We are willing to join hands with the Ethiopian side to further enhance Sino-Ethiopian non-governmental exchanges," he said.

Dibaba Abdetta Dirbaba, charge d'affaires ad iterim of the Ethiopian embassy in Beijing, said the exchanges between the two sides in politics, economy, agriculture, tourism as well as personnel training have been progressing smoothly in recent years.

The frequent mutual visits between the two countries' government officials, experts and economic groups, he noted, have further strengthened Ethopia-China traditional friendship.

Ethiopia will continue to make efforts with China to promote the bilateral friendly exchanges and cooperation in various fields, he said.

Source: Xinhua