Xiao Yi, Sun Jin, Fang Mubing & Li Jing

1793367393@qq.com

MULATU TESHOME, the former president of Ethiopia, voiced strong support for deeper economic cooperation between Ethiopia and Shenzhen during a recent visit to the city that coincided with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Ethiopia.

A consistent advocate for Sino-Ethiopian partnership, Teshome urged more Shenzhen-based companies to invest in his country.

Teshome, who served as Ethiopia’s president from 2013 to 2018, is no stranger to China. He lived, studied, and worked in China for over a decade, earning a Ph.D. from Peking University.

During an interview with Shenzhen Special Zone Daily, the former president said his connection to Shenzhen spans decades.

He first passed through the city in 1978 as a student and recalled a landscape with “few high-rise buildings.” On an official presidential visit in 2014, he witnessed the city’s dramatic transformation, which he found “hard to believe.”

This most recent trip, however, had a personal dimension. It was prompted by Dr. Yao Xiaoming, a Shenzhen ophthalmologist who led a volunteer medical mission in Ethiopia in May 2025.

Dr. Yao’s team performed cataract surgeries on over 30 patients, including Teshome’s wife. The former president traveled to Shenzhen for further eye treatment and to express his gratitude.

During his stay, Teshome highlighted Shenzhen’s extraordinary development journey.

“Although some Shenzhen firms have already invested, it is not enough — I hope more will go to Ethiopia,” he told the Daily. He emphasized that Shenzhen’s development experience and modern technologies offer valuable lessons for Ethiopia’s growth.

He pointed to concrete signs of deepening cooperation, such as the Addis Ababa waste-to-energy project signed by Shenzhen Energy Group in April 2025.

During his stay, Teshome made a special visit to the company, praising its environmental and technological contributions.

Teshome encouraged Shenzhen businesses to capitalize on Ethiopia’s rich natural resources, strategic location, and growing market. He lauded China’s global initiatives and expressed his hope for continued prosperity and strengthened cooperation between China and Africa.

Ethiopia is one of Africa’s top five economies and its second-most populous nation. It is also home to the African Union headquarters. As the sole sub-Saharan African member of the expanded BRICS, Ethiopia plays a significant role in the Belt and Road Initiative.