The Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development (EIIPD) said in Addis Ababa Thursday that the Sino-Ethiopian bilateral cooperation has further been consolidated ever since China has begun to involve in Ethiopia's socio-economic development.

EIIPD President Kinfe Abrha said the participation of China in the construction of the Addis Ababa City Ring Road and other development activities has further strengthened the ties between the two nations.

He made the remark here at the opening of a seminar organized to discuss the Sino-Ethiopian relations.

He noted the Chinese government has also been participating in the development of trade, health and training of skilled manpower.

Member countries of the African Union (AU) including Ethiopia can draw lessons from China's economic and trade development achievements, he said.

He cited the upcoming China-Africa Cooperation Forum which is scheduled to be held in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia as a significant forum to African countries.

The seminar, which attracted the participation of the delegation of the China International Institute of Strategic Studies, also discussed security situations prevailing in the Horn of Africa and issues of Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the AU, the New Partnership for Africa's Development and bilateral cooperation.

Also at the opening, Addis Dilnessa, representative of the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry highly appraised the current Sino-Ethiopian relations, saying Ethiopia would like to further expand agricultural, capacity building cooperation with China.

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2003)