Addis Ababa, 8 May 2015 (WIC) – An Ethiopian Public Diplomacy delegation headed by the Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representative of the Ethiopian Parliament, Abadulla Gemeda, left Addis Ababa on Friday (May 8) for a week-long visit to Sudan.
According to MoFA, the Public Diplomacy Delegation’s visit is to support and expand the excellent and longstanding government-to-government relations and build and strengthening people-to-people links between two countries.
The Delegation includes religious leaders, officials, academics, business people, artists, well known personalities, and farmers. Meeting with the members of the Delegation on May 7, 2015 at the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn expressed his thanks to the members of the Delegation for their commitment to increasing people-to-people ties with the people of Sudan.
The Prime Minister emphasized that good neighborliness was a top priority for Ethiopia’s foreign relations. This is rooted in the conviction that Ethiopia’s development and stability is inextricably linked with neighboring countries.
The Prime Minister, underlining that Ethiopia places great emphasis on its exemplary relations with Sudan, said both countries shared a multitude of aspects, including civilization, culture, languages, and people. He appealed to the Public Diplomacy Delegation to deliver Ethiopia’s commitment for the acceleration of a people-driven economic and political integration within the framework of IGAD and the AU.
The Prime Minister, describing the government to government relations as excellent, said the political, diplomatic, security and commercial relations of the two countries featured a win-win partnership for the benefit of all.
He expressed his hope that the Delegation’s visit to Khartoum would encourage the bonds of brotherhood and friendship with the peoples of the Sudan.
He applauded the Government of Sudan for its unwavering support and commitment to the strengthening of its ties with Ethiopia, for the equitable and reasonable utilization of the Nile waters and for mutual benefit of all the riparian peoples.
The Delegation will hold discussions with people, business and religious leaders and government officials in Sudan.
A day long symposium will also be held for government officials and researchers to discuss topics related to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, bilateral relations and the use of the Nile waters.