Ministry of Foreign Affairs Holds Volunteer Service Handover Ceremony in Dire Dawa
Ethiopia-China Coffee Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference Held in Zhuzhou City
NEWS IN BRIEF
Ethiopia
President Taye Atske Selassie and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed extended warm New Year greetings and best wishes to partners and friends around the world on Wednesday (December 31), marking the start of 2026.
Prime Minister Abiy held a New Year telephone exchange on Thursday (January 1) with French President Emmanuel Macron, during which they discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation and agreed to remain in close contact on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Prime Minister Abiy, an alumnus of Addis Ababa University, delivered a guest lecture titled “The Role of Intellectuals in National Prosperity” on Friday (January 2) as part of events marking the university’s 75th anniversary, concluding a series of commemorative lectures held in the presence of academic leaders and senior government officials.
Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos responded to questions raised by members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives during its sixth regular meeting on Tuesday (December 30). In the presence of State Ministers Ambassador Hadera Abera and Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye, the Foreign Minister addressed the House on key issues related to national interests, as well as broader matters concerning foreign relations and diplomacy.
The inauguration and handover ceremony of the Summer Volunteer Service Program organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was held in Dire Dawa on Friday (December 26) in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedion Timothewos and Mayor of the Dire Dawa City Administration Kedir Juhar. State Ministers of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Hadera Abera and Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Kenya Ambassador Bacha Debele, and Dire Dawa city community members also attended the event. (See article)
The Ethiopia-China Coffee Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference and a series of Ethiopian coffee promotion events were held in Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province, from December 26 to 28. The events were jointly organized by the Embassy of Ethiopia in China and the Ethiopia–China Friendship and Cooperation Committee under the theme “Taste Ethiopia, Embrace Opportunities.”(See article)
Djibouti
President Ismail Omar Guelleh met in Djibouti on Monday (December 29) with his Somali counterpart, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, during an official visit, where they discussed bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.
Somalia
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met on Tuesday (December 30) with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of the Republic of Türkiye at the Dolmabahçe Presidential Office in Istanbul. The two leaders held discussions on matters of mutual interest.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Holds Volunteer Service Handover Ceremony in Dire Dawa
The inauguration and handover ceremony of the Summer Volunteer Service Program organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was held in Dire Dawa on Friday (December 26) in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedion Timothewos and Mayor of the Dire Dawa City Administration Kedir Juhar. State Ministers of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Hadera Abera and Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Kenya Ambassador Bacha Debele, and Dire Dawa city community members also attended the event.
Delivering his remarks at the ceremony, Foreign Minister Gedion noted that volunteer service plays a vital role in promoting mutual assistance, cooperation, and social cohesion, while transmitting positive values to future generations and strengthening national unity. He said that, over the years, numerous people-centered volunteer initiatives have been carried out, reaching millions of citizens across the country. These efforts have included the renovation and reconstruction of homes, the provision of educational materials to students, blood donation campaigns, support to communities affected by disasters, and seedling planting under the Green Legacy Initiative to enhance environmental sustainability.
The Minister further explained that, in fulfillment of its social responsibility and in solidarity with the people of Dire Dawa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with its missions abroad and relevant stakeholders, has implemented various volunteer service activities aimed at directly benefiting the local community.
As part of these efforts, support was provided for the purchase of educational materials for students from low-income families, including financial assistance extended to the Dire Dawa City Administration Education Bureau for the same purpose. Tree-planting activities involving various fruit seedlings were also conducted under the Green Legacy Initiative, with the participation of heads and staff of the Ministry and its affiliated institutions, the Diaspora Association, and the Washington, DC Association for Peace and Unity in Ethiopia.
The Ministry also handed over newly constructed houses to underprivileged beneficiaries in collaboration with its headquarters and the Ethiopian Embassy in Nairobi. In addition, financial and educational material support was provided to the Dire Dawa Rural Women Students’ Living Facility, coordinated by Ethiopia’s Embassy in New Delhi.
On the occasion, the Minister expressed appreciation, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant institutions, to the Ethiopian Customs Commission for its support through the donation of housing and construction materials.
Overall, the Ministry was able to implement various volunteer service activities and Green Legacy initiatives in Dire Dawa with a total contribution of 20.1 million birr. He noted that the heads and employees of the Ministry and its affiliated institutions were pleased to have contributed meaningfully to volunteer service and environmental sustainability during the Summer season. He further added that, over the past six months alone, volunteer service activities valued at more than 40 million birr have been carried out, reinforcing a culture of mutual support and the transmission of positive values to the next generation.
The Minister underscored that volunteer service is a people-centered approach capable of addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges. He called for continued collective engagement to ensure volunteerism remains an enduring tradition, while reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Dire Dawa City Administration, particularly in the areas of investment and tourism promotion.
The Minister also highlighted that, over the past seven years, the government and people of Ethiopia have planted 48 billion seedlings under the Green Legacy Initiative. He described the initiative as a cross-generational program that contributes to increased productivity, climate change mitigation, land rehabilitation, and the preservation of a healthy environment for future generations, while also supporting the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Beyond its national impact, the Green Legacy Initiative has contributed to strengthening regional solidarity and cooperation by fostering closer ties with neighboring countries. The initiative has also gained international recognition, including the occasion when Prime Minister Abiy received the Outstanding African Leadership Award in 2022.
Ethiopia’s track record under the Green Legacy Initiative was among the factors considered in selecting the country to host the 32nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP32). The conference is expected to provide an international platform to showcase Ethiopia’s tourism potential, underscoring the importance of making tree planting a sustained tradition and ensuring the protection and nurturing of planted seedlings.
Ethiopia-China Coffee Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference Held in Zhuzhou City
The Ethiopia-China Coffee Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference and a series of Ethiopian coffee promotion events were held in Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province, from December 26 to 28. The events were jointly organized by the Embassy of Ethiopia in China and the Ethiopia–China Friendship and Cooperation Committee under the theme “Taste Ethiopia, Embrace Opportunities.”
Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, is among the world’s leading suppliers of premium coffee beans, with China currently ranking as its fourth-largest export destination. Against the backdrop of rising demand in the Chinese market, the events aimed to further promote Ethiopian coffee, expand market access, and enhance export volume and value through strengthened economic and trade cooperation.
As part of the program, a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony was showcased at a public square in Zhuzhou, offering residents and visitors the opportunity to experience and taste high-quality Ethiopian coffee. An Ethiopian Coffee Culture Experience Center was also established to introduce visitors to the history, origins, and production regions of Coffee Arabica, as well as the distinct characteristics of green coffee beans. Premium Ethiopian coffee varieties, including Yirgacheffe, Sidama, Guji, Geisha, Harar, Jimma, Limu, and Nekemte, were displayed, highlighting Ethiopia’s rich coffee diversity and its position as home to thousands of coffee varieties.
A key highlight of the events was the inaugural China–Ethiopia Coffee Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference, held on Tuesday (December 27) in Zhuzhou City. The conference brought together more than 300 government officials and coffee sector business leaders from both countries. During the event, the Ethiopia Coffee Trading Center was officially launched to facilitate the promotion and marketing of Ethiopian coffee in China. Several cooperation agreements were also signed, aimed at strengthening economic and trade exchanges and further deepening bilateral ties.
President Taye Atske-Selassie delivered a congratulatory message via video, underscoring the economic and cultural significance of coffee to Ethiopia. He reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to expanding cooperation with China in the coffee sector and beyond.
Ethiopian Ambassador to China, Tefera Derbew, highlighted the steadily growing relationship between Ethiopia and China, emphasizing coffee’s role as a unifying commodity. In his remarks during the opening session, Ambassador Tefera described coffee as a binding product that continues to support and enhance the partnership between the two countries.
Adugna Debela, Director-General of the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, stated that the establishment of the Ethiopian Coffee Trading Center in Zhuzhou would help create direct sales channels by leveraging the Zhuzhou Cross-Border E-Commerce Pilot Zones, thereby improving efficiency and market access for Ethiopian coffee in China.
Addressing technical and production aspects, State Minister of Agriculture of Ethiopia, Efa Muleta, called for deeper collaboration in agricultural infrastructure. He invited Chinese investors and experts to partner with Ethiopia in modernizing input supply systems, improving harvesting techniques, and strengthening storage and distribution networks to ensure Ethiopian coffee reaches Chinese consumers in optimal condition.
State Minister of Government Communication Service, Tesfahun Gobezay, emphasized that coffee represents more than a commodity for Ethiopia, noting its cultural significance and its potential to strengthen people-to-people relations between the two countries.
On the Chinese side, Betty Xu, President of the Ethiopia–China Friendship and Cooperation Committee, noted that the coffee sector offers significant opportunities for Chinese enterprises to promote two-way trade between Ethiopia and Zhuzhou City, which is emerging as a hub for high-quality coffee consumption. She further underscored that the Ethiopian specialty coffee trading center in Zhuzhou—dedicated to product display, trading, and cultural promotion—would play a key role in facilitating Ethiopian coffee’s access to the Chinese market and enhancing mutual understanding between the two countries.
Hu Xusheng, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Hunan Provincial People’s Congress, stated during the opening ceremony that Hunan Province, as the permanent host of the China–Africa Economic and Trade Expo, has long been committed to building effective platforms for China–Africa cooperation. He noted that the conference represents a practical step toward implementing the outcomes of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation and deepening bilateral economic and trade collaboration.
On the sidelines of the conference, Ambassador Tefera Derbew held discussions with Chen Huiqin, Mayor of Zhuzhou City, focusing on future areas of cooperation. The talks explored ways to strengthen economic and trade relations, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and consider the establishment of sister-city relations between Zhuzhou City and Ethiopian counterparts as a means of further deepening bilateral ties.
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