Ethiopia attended the third Horn of Africa Peace and Development Conference that took place in Uganda, Kampala on Tuesday (July 29). The third edition of the conference discussed regional peace, development, and governance in an atmosphere of openness, unity, solidarity, and mutual respect. High-level government officials from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, and China, and representatives from regional organizations, including IGAD secretariat, East African Community, and International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, attended the conference.
Delivering a key note address, Xue Bing, Special Envoy of China to the Horn of Africa Affairs expressed China’s readiness to play a constructive role in regional peace processes in coordination with regional and continental organizations. He presented China’s new initiatives such as expanding the zero-tariff access for African countries and enhancing cooperation in green technology and digital industries as boosts for regional development. He further confirmed China’s pledge to continue supporting security cooperation in areas such as counterterrorism and military training in addition to intensifying economic cooperation.
The meeting underlined the importance of accelerating the implementation of key regional development strategies specially through frameworks like the Belt and Road Initiative, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, and the Mombasa-Nairobi SGR. Participants underscored the significance of these projects in unlocking growth by improving connectivity and regional integration. Ethiopia recognizes the central role these projects play in steering growth and expediating regional integration in the Horn of Africa. In line with this, Ethiopia appreciated China’s continued support in this regard.
Furthermore, the conference provided an opportunity for Ethiopia to showcase its best practices in mitigating climate change through its Green Legacy Initiative and addressing Food insecurity through the implementation of the ‘Summer Wheat Production Initiative’. Etsegenet Yimenu, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Uganda, presented Ethiopia’s experience underscoring key achievements in the sector. The Ambassador stated Ethiopia has implemented various climate adaptation strategies and policies to build resilience in its food systems. Moreover, she highlighted Ethiopia’s key achievements in climate change mitigation referring to the renewable energy development, and the Green Legacy Initiative, a reforestation program that has increased the country’s forest coverage from 17% to 24%. Participants recognized Ethiopia’s remarkable achievement and, through the Joint Statement issued at the end of the conference, lauded Ethiopia for the progress.
The Peaceful Development Initiative, a platform initiated by China three years ago, plays a facilitative role privileging dialogue among the countries of the region. It also provides the platform where countries of the region learn from each other’s best practices. In line with this, Ethiopia has actively participated in all the three editions of the outlook on peace and development in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia continues to actively participate in this Initiative placing peaceful development at the core of its national security and development strategy as well as regional vision of integrated development and collective security.