China offered a three-point proposal to boost its relations with Ethiopia, calling on the two sides to expand substantial cooperation to promote the all-round and cooperative partnership to a higher level.

The offer was made during Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo's official visit to the country from Nov. 8 to 10. China suggested that the two countries to work closer to maintain high-level exchange, cement substantial cooperation and strengthen the coordination on world affairs to safeguard the interests of the two and the other developing countries.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), called on in his meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi that the ruling parties, legislature and governments of the two nations to step up exchange and cooperation.

"The communication and exchange between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), both as the ruling parties, have played an important role to promote the bilateral ties at various level and in various fields", Wu said.

Wu also proposed the two nations to focus on three key projects that he believed would be vital to foster the bilateral cooperation, referring to an agriculture technology demonstration center, an all-packed economic and trade project including the construction of hydropower stations and the establishment of an oriental industrial zone to attract investment from Chinese companies.

"China encourages its companies to expand investment in Ethiopia and will adopt open policies on technology transfer and as well as training program for the Ethiopian personnel," Wu told Meles.

Echoing on Wu's proposal, Meles expressed his appreciation to China's long-term support for Ethiopia's development. He said the Ethiopia-China cooperation has become an important drive for the country's development.

The cooperation with China is of vital importance to push forward Ethiopia's development and the Ethiopian government highly values it, Meles noted.

He said the Ethiopia would make its efforts to further implement the projects between the two sides and consolidate the cooperation in fields such as agriculture, infrastructure and human resource.

Ethiopia is willing to step up exchange between the two legislatures and two peoples and the EPRDF attaches great importance to its ties with the CPC, Meles added.

At the invitation of Ethiopian Federal Council Speaker Degefi Bula, Wu arrived here on Nov. 8 on the third leg of his five-nation Africa tour. Besides Meles, he also met with Ethiopian President Girma Wolde Giorgis, Speaker of Council of People's Representatives Teshome Toga and visited the African Union's headquarters.

(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2008)