Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's recent bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS Leaders' Summit were crucial in enabling participating nations to better understand and support Ethiopia's strategic interests and positions, according to Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos (PhD).
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, accompanied by his delegation, actively participated in the summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Minister Gedion elaborated on the significance of these discussions, emphasizing that they provided a valuable platform to strengthen bilateral cooperation and foster an exchange of ideas. He highlighted that these interactions were instrumental in persuading various countries to grasp and endorse Ethiopia's stance on critical strategic matters.
During his meeting with Brazilian President Ignácio Lula da Silva, Prime Minister Abiy and President da Silva explored avenues to enhance bilateral, particularly economic, cooperation. The discussion was noted as a significant opportunity for the Brazilian President to gain a clear understanding of Ethiopia's policy direction. Similarly, discussions with Chinese Premier Li Qiang focused on reinforcing the already robust ties between Ethiopia and China. Economic and investment cooperation were central themes.
Minister Gedion specifically mentioned talks on how China could further its positive economic contributions to Ethiopia, including its crucial role alongside France in facilitating Ethiopia's debt restructuring within the Paris Club framework. The ministers also discussed China's recent initiatives to provide duty-free access for certain Ethiopian goods and exports. Premier Li Qiang, during their exchange, acknowledged the growing import of Ethiopian coffee into China, underscoring the need to deepen trade and investment relations.
Prime Minister Abiy also engaged in bilateral talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The Foreign Minister revealed that Prime Minister Abiy informed President Ramaphosa about the completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and discussed related issues. Minister Gedion concluded by stating that Ethiopia aims to leverage the BRICS platform to gain experience, technology, and investment from member countries, while also identifying areas where Ethiopia can contribute to the cooperation framework. He stressed that Prime Minister Abiy's focused engagement at the summit underscores Ethiopia's commitment to strengthening partnerships, recognizing BRICS as a vital organization for fostering collaborative efforts, ENA learned.