At the end of 2005, Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyoum Mesfin visited China at the invitation of his counterpart Li Zhaoxing. While in Beijing, he met with Chinese ministers and “many, many” enterprises interested in investing in Ethiopia. During an interview with Beijing Review reporter Ni Yanshuo, Mesfin shared his thoughts on the development of Africa and Ethiopia.
　　Beijing Review: What impressions do you have of this visit, and what achievements have been made?
　　
　　Seyoum Mesfin: This is my fourth official visit to China as a foreign minister of my country. Ethiopia and China are old friends. Recently we celebrated our 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between our countries. But that does not mean that was the beginning of relations between China and Ethiopia. We have exchanged trade, civilization and culture since ancient times. This is the background. Today China and Ethiopia are working very closely in consultation on issues of mutual interests in all areas--in political, economic, trade, investment and on regional and international matters as well.
　　The future is very bright because it is a relationship based on win-win, mutually beneficial business, which we hope will continue to flourish, and I am very much satisfied with this visit.
　　Whatever is achieved here in China, all developing nations and peoples believe that this is their asset. Particularly Africa believes that it can benefit from China’s technological advancement, and the political will is there in China to assist Africa and developing countries.
　　In 2004, I spoke with visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who said Ethiopia would take concrete measures to educate people on how to prevent HIV/AIDS, a threat to the world. What achievements have been made in preventing the epidemic?
　　The HIV/AIDS pandemic, as you know, is a major challenge to many developing countries in particular, including Ethiopia. There cannot be a major victory achieved here by unitary action or by individual government. There is a need for a collective action to fight this scourge or pandemic raging in many developing countries.
　　In Ethiopia, the prime minister was correct in saying that, because the government is undertaking a very serious program to make our people aware and to also make the people change their behavior in their relations with regard to fighting this pandemic. A national council has been established from the top to the village level throughout the country. Its main activities are organizing people from the national level to the village level, mobilizing all sectors of society. The youth, women, students, farmers, factory workers, civil servants and religious institutions are all joining efforts to make our people aware of the danger of this disease.
　　We have now a functioning policy and a strategy that is guiding us to tackle this problem. So far we have been encouraged. At least we can say we have, to some extent, arrested the rapid negative effects of the disease.
　　Because HIV/AIDS is not only a health challenge of our society but also a national security challenge, this pandemic affects the most productive sector of society--the youth. If you are deprived of the youth, then you are most definitely deprived of the economic development and the security of the country. We are facing this challenge as a national security challenge by mobilizing the entire population of the country and mobilizing institutions. All government and non-governmental institutions are focusing their attention to fight the pandemic. We are also mobilizing the international community, concerned international agencies to join us in fighting this pandemic. I cannot tell you that what we have been doing is all rosy--we have many challenges and pitfalls--but we are assured that we’ll continue to try and overcome this challenge.
　　Can you talk briefly about Ethiopia’s view of the HIV/AIDS situation in Africa?
　　Africa has got two faces: the predicament of Africa, which is the negative image portrayed of Africa, and its bright future. But unfortunately, the world media capitalize on sensation--on negative images, on pandemics, such as TB, HIV/AIDS, malaria, poverty, conflict and so on and so forth. These are challenges that Africa is tackling. But there is also another face of Africa. The continent has huge potential for development. Africa is endowed with natural resources such as oil, precious metals, diamond, gold and iron. Africa is also endowed with huge human resources, population of close to 800 million. So Africa’s future is bright because Africa is now collectively addressing these issues. The African Union leaders have articulated a strategy to transform Africa to face the challenge.
　　We have a new program called New Partnership for Africa’s Development, which mainly focuses on creating partnership between national governments and their peoples, partnership between African countries as a whole and partnership between Africa and extra African partners like China, Europe, Japan and the United States, so we are articulating on economic and social development of Africa with the West and our own people. Africa is building a mature political integration through a process, which we have embarked upon through the African Union.
　　There is a collective will and commitment in Africa. I wish Chinese media focus on Africa’s positive image rather than capitalize on the negative image negatively affecting Africa’s development.
　　As co-chair countries for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, how should China and Ethiopia make efforts to help the mechanism better serve the friendship between China and Africa?
　　We have an innovation of genius in the establishment of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, which was initiated by the leadership here in China. We had our first conference in Beijing in 2000. In 2003, we had the second conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Since then, Ethiopia is the co-chair with China leading the China-Africa Cooperation Forum.
　　The forum has endorsed a plan of action--the Addis Ababa Plan of Action, which guides the cooperation between China and African countries. In the area of capacity building, China promised to train 10,000 young professionals from Africa in three years. We will be evaluating the result when we meet at the third conference and summit. There is an agreement between China and Africa to elevate this forum to a summit level.
　　China will be hosting this summit and ministerial conference in 2006. We’ll also be evaluating Chinese support to Africa in opening up the Chinese market for African products.
　　China has allowed African agricultural products to be imported into the Chinese market without quota and without duty. Of course there are standards set for these commodities. We will be focusing on Chinese support to qualify for the standards set by China. Without China being involved in the capacity building to meet these standards, we may not use the market opened by China for African products. We will continue to discuss various issues that we believe are areas of enhanced cooperation between China and Africa.
　　The cooperation between China and Africa did not begin with the establishment of this forum. China has been a staunch ally and supporter of Africa’s decolonization struggle during the 1960s. China is also a close ally and giving solidarity to Africa at this time when Africa is fighting against poverty and backwardness. Africa cannot be called a free continent as long as we are living in poverty and backwardness. So we say, Africans we are now in the second phase of our liberation struggle for development.
　　
　　So there is no way China would abandon us. We count on Chinese solidarity and support during this critical stage of fighting against poverty and backwardness. This is what we highlighted in the China-Africa Cooperation Forum.
　　As Ethiopia is a neighbor of Sudan, what is your opinion on the Darfur crisis? What should the world do to help the people there?
　　The Darfur crisis is a reality on the ground. But it should not be used against Sudan as a liability.
　　Sudan is a huge country and has a diverse community. Sudan needs assistance from the international community. Rather than use the Darfur situation as a means of pressuring Sudan, it should rather be used as an opportunity for the international community to assist Sudan.
　　Sudan is trying its level best to address the crisis. Sudan has addressed the most long-standing crisis of the civil war. A comprehensive agreement has been achieved. They are in the implementation process.
　　Now a new government has been established for the interim period of six years. This is a remarkable achievement. Sudan is reconciling from within the country. Sudan wants to address also other crises like that of Darfur, but I believe some of the institutions are irresponsible in capitalizing on the Darfur crisis to use it as a means to put pressure on Sudan for various ends. This should not be done.
　　What Sudan needs is support. What Sudan needs is solidarity and meaningful backing to address this crisis. That is what the African Union is doing--not to capitalize on the shortcomings and weaknesses of the government, on whether they are addressing or not addressing the Darfur crisis, but in joining hands to support them on addressing the crisis. We are confident on addressing it soon.

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