PM Meles Visits Equatorial Guinea

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi paid an official visit to Equatorial Guinea from 10^th to 11^th June at the invitation of the country’s President, Mr. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. The visit offered an opportunity for both leaders to exchange views on various aspects of their bilateral cooperation as well as the current regional and international developments in general and the situation in Africa in particular. Among the issues discussed during the visit were the state of peace and security in Africa, the strengthening of the African Union and African integration, the reform of the United Nations as well as cooperation in the fight against terrorism. The two leaders also took the opportunity to reiterate their commitment to work closely and to coordinate their common positions.

The Prime Minister’s visit was preceded by the second meeting of the Ethio-Equatorial Guinea Joint Ministerial Commission which was held in Malabo from 6^th to 9^th June. The Ethiopian delegation was headed by Ato Seyoum Mesfin, Minister of Foreign Affairs while the Equatorial Guinean delegation was led by Mr. Paster Micha Ondo Bile, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophone. It was noted during the meeting that Ethiopia and Equatorial Guinea are endowed with immense physical and human resources that can serve as a basis for exchange and cooperation between the two countries to enhance the mutual benefit of their peoples. It is to be recalled that a General Cooperation Agreement between the two countries was signed in 2005 with a view to strengthening their excellent relations of friendship and cooperation. The Joint Ministerial Commission meets biannually to periodically evaluate and monitor the status of the implementation of agreements between the two countries. The second meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission was therefore held to overview the level of implementation of the existing agreements and to explore ways of further cooperation. At the end of this Joint Ministerial Commission meeting cooperation agreements were signed in the areas of reciprocal investment protection and promotion, training and experience sharing, and agriculture. Detailed discussions and exchanges of views on possible expansion of areas of cooperation were also held. The establishment of a joint trade committee was deemed vital to implementing the already existing trade agreement between the two countries. An agreement was also signed between the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association and its Equatorial Guinea counterpart.

The inaugural ceremony of the new Ethiopian Airlines flight to Malabo was held on the margins of the Joint Ministerial Commission meeting. Ethiopian Airlines has commenced a regular three times a week flight to Malabo beginning on 2^nd June. The inaugural ceremony was attended by ministers and higher officials of Equatorial Guinea, diplomatic community members in Malabo and representatives of the business community. In his inaugural statement, Minister Seyoum Mesfin, who is also Board Chairman of Ethiopian Airlines, stated that the commencement of the Ethiopian flight to Malabo links not only Ethiopia and Equatorial Guinea but will also contribute to connecting the continent to the rest of the world. Ethiopian currently flies to thirty three destinations in Africa and more than fifty in the world; and it is believed that this infrastructural link in Africa would undoubtedly have a multiplier effect on the strengthening of relations in the trade, investment and cultural spheres and in bringing peoples closer.