A bilateral cooperation agreement that will facilitate the teaching of the Chinese language within Ethiopia’s education system was signed yesterday.

The agreement was jointly signed by Ethiopia’s State Minister of Education, Professor Kindea Gebrehiwot, and the Ambassador of China to Ethiopia, Chen Hai

It was noted that the agreement represents an important step toward elevating the longstanding historical relationship between the two countries to a higher level. In particular, it is expected to open new avenues of cooperation in education, technology transfer, and cultural exchange.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, State Minister of Education Professor Kindea Gebrehiwot stated that the agreement would play a significant role not only in strengthening diplomatic relations but also in promoting tourism, people-to-people ties, and technology transfer.

“Providing our citizens with opportunities to learn different languages creates a great opportunity for them to become more competitive at the global level,” Professor Kindea said. He further explained that the agreement would serve as a foundation for expanding access to scholarships for Ethiopians and enhancing cooperation in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), where China has achieved significant advancements.

The agreement also includes technical support for curriculum development, teacher training, and the provision of educational materials, as well as support from Chinese language instructors. In addition, it is expected to broaden knowledge exchange in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and expand scholarship opportunities for Ethiopian students.

On his part, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Qin Hai stated that the agreement would help elevate the rapidly growing bilateral diplomatic relations between the two countries to a new level.

The Ambassador further highlighted that the introduction of Amharic language instruction in Chinese universities has strengthened the historical ties between Ethiopia and China and opened a new chapter in cultural exchange between the two nations.

The agreement is viewed not only as a mechanism for strengthening cooperation between Ethiopia and China but also as part of Ethiopia’s broader efforts to expand students’ skills and competencies, preparing them for the future global labor market and the demands of the digital age.