Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi affirmed China's support for Ethiopia’s expanding international influence during a high-level meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, marking a new chapter in Sino-African collaboration. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, praised Ethiopia’s recent accession as a full BRICS member, calling it a “major African country” and key voice for emerging economies.
The discussions highlighted commitments to implement outcomes from the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit, with Wang emphasizing China’s “no-strings-attached” approach to development partnerships. “China’s cooperation with Africa is free of selfish motives and geopolitical rivalry,” he stated, positioning China as a “reliable partner” in Africa's modernization drive.
Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos applauded China’s modernization achievements, citing them as a blueprint for Global South progress. He thanked China for supporting Ethiopia’s economic growth and pledged to deepen collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative. Both ministers criticized rising unilateral protectionism, vowing to unite BRICS members in safeguarding developing nations’ interests.
