An official with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has commended the Chinese government’s win-win partnership approach with IGAD member countries. Mahboub Maalim, executive secretary of IGAD, made the remarks during his meeting on Sunday with China’s Ambassador to Djibouti, Zhuo Ruisheng, the East African bloc said in a statement on Monday. “The Executive Secretary acknowledged China’s growing partnership with IGAD Member States entrusted in win-win and strong bilateral relations,” the statement read. During the meeting at the Chinese Embassy to Djibouti, Maalim availed himself for a working visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China “for the purpose of bringing IGAD’s agenda to the attention of the highest diplomatic level,” it was indicated. As part of the meeting between the IGAD’s executive secretary and Chinese ambassador, the Chinese government, through the Chinese Embassy to Djibouti, delivered a grant financial support of 100,000 U.S. dollars to the regional organisation. Zhuo, who vowed to exert his utmost efforts in sustaining the positive ties between the Chinese government and IGAD as well as its member countries, lauded IGAD under the leadership of Maalim “for the tremendous amount of work towards peace and development in the region,” the statement quoted Zhuo as saying. Zhuo assured Maalim of China’s support in this endeavor of IGAD. China has already established strong working ties with IGAD and its member countries, which include Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda. In August this year, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs dubbed the Ethiopia-China ties as “a role model for the successful South-South cooperation platform.” “The comprehensive partnership among Ethiopia and China, which represents sustainable and predictable relations on various corporation areas, effectively showcases the successful South-South partnership modality,” the ministry said in a seasonal publication. According to the ministry, the two countries have realised one of the growing and successful relations in infrastructure development, trade and investment as well as development financing. More than 400 Chinese investment projects worth over 4 billion dollars are presently active in the East African country, creating more than 100,000 jobs for Ethiopians, according to the ministry. The ministry added that Chinese investments in Ethiopia are largely engaged in the Ethiopian government’s key priority sectors, mainly manufacturing and infrastructure. It also indicated that out of the more than 400 Chinese investments in the East African country, some 105 are joint ventures between Ethiopian and Chinese investors, indicating the positive relations between business communities of the two countries. Xinhua
