Addis Ababa: Strengthening the ties between Ethiopia and China in civilization, culture, and people-to-people relations would be highly beneficial for both countries, Chinese NGO Network for International Exchange Vice President Li Jun said. In a move to deepen cultural ties and mutual understanding, a high-level forum was held in Addis Ababa as part of the Civilization Lecture Series today. The forum emphasized the ancient roots of both civilizations, with speakers highlighting Ethiopia's 3,000-year history and China's 5,000-year legacy. It was highlighted at the forum that the relationship between Ethiopia and China has reached an all-weather, comprehensive strategic partnership level due to the relentless efforts of both countries. Moreover, it was stated that this comprehensive and strong cooperation that the two countries have achieved effective work in sustainable development, civilization, and cultural exchange by further strengthening it. Opening the forum, Chinese NGO Network for International E xchange Vice President Li Jun highlighted the historical depth of Sino-Ethiopian relations. "While separated by oceans and mountains, the friendship between China and Ethiopia runs deep in history," he stated, referencing diplomatic milestones dating back to 100 B.C. The vice president proposed three key areas for future cooperation between Ethiopia and China, namely respecting civilizational diversity, advocating shared human values, and strengthening people-to-people exchanges. Li emphasized the importance of rejecting "pride and prejudice" in cultural interactions and supporting Ethiopia's right to choose its own development path. For his part, United Nations Development Programme advisor Gedion Jalata underscored the importance of understanding each other's civilizations. "When we understand their civilization, their culture, we will better collaborate with them," he explained. Gedion further stated that both Ethiopia and China are oldest states in the world, with Ethiopia ranging 3,000 years of exi stence and China more than 5,000 years. Mentioning China's success in poverty alleviation, he suggested that Ethiopia learns from this experience. "China managed to lift over 700 million people out of poverty in less than 30 years. This can be, I think, a good lesson for African countries." Melaku Mulualem, Director-General at the Institute of Foreign Affairs, added depth to the discussion saying that President Xi of China came up with global civilization initiative to have dialogue among civilizations. The presence of many civilizations has demanded dialogue and discussion among civilizations, he noted, adding that this is the point for discussion for today. Dialogue among civilizations will produce peace among civilizations, he stressed. Today's event also touched on China's Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), proposed by President Xi Jinping, which calls for respect for civilizational diversity and greater international community engagement. Both Ethiopia and China look forward to celebrating signi ficant milestones - the 75th anniversary of the People's Republic of China and the 54th anniversary of Sino-Ethiopian diplomatic relations this year and the forum marks a step towards deeper cultural and civilizational ties. The event concluded with a shared commitment to promote mutual understanding, peaceful coexistence, and collaborative development, setting the stage for continued dialogue and cooperation between Ethiopia and China in the years to come. The Civilization Lecture Series initiative, aligned with China's Global Civilization Initiative, has brought together representatives from both countries, including officials from the political department of the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, the Institute of Foreign Affairs, the National Dialogue Commission, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders from both nations to explore their shared histories and discuss future cooperation. Source: Ethiopian News Agency