Ethiopia and China signed in Addis Ababa on Friday a debt relief agreement amounting to US$18.5 million. The agreement was signed by Mekonen Manyazewal, state minister of finance and economic development, and China's Assistant Minister of Commerce Wang Chao.

It was stated on the occasion that the money drawn from the debt relief would be used to finance poverty reduction program in Ethiopia.

After signing the agreement, Mekonen expressed appreciation to China's commitment to support Ethiopia.

"It is important to us in that it gives us a fiscal space for our growth and poverty reduction programs," he said.

Wang Chao, who is here on a working visit, said on his part the debt relief would be a landmark to the growing development cooperation between China and Ethiopia.

"Our government will also continue to encourage our Chinese enterprises to conduct mutual beneficial cooperation with Ethiopian enterprises," he said.

He also said the new convention center of the African Union (AU), which is to be constructed with the help of Chinese government, would be a new symbol of relations between China and Ethiopia and the whole of Africa.

This second time debt relief is part of the comprehensive package of various supports from China including project assistance, technical cooperation, debt canceling and private sector interactions.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2007)