China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin (left) arrives at the airport in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia on January 27, 2012. Jia will pay an official goodwill visit to Ethiopia and attend the opening ceremony of the annual African Union (AU) summit. [Photo: Xinhua/Rao Aimin]

China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin arrived in Addis Ababa on Friday to pay an official goodwill visit to Ethiopia and attend the opening ceremony of the annual African Union (AU) summit.

"Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 42 years ago, particularly since the establishment of the all-round cooperative partnership in 2003, China and Ethiopia have had fruitful exchanges and cooperation in political, economic, trade, cultural and other fields and enjoyed ever closer cooperation in international and regional affairs," Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said at the airport in a written statement.

"The African Union is the largest and most representative inter- governmental organization in Africa. Since its inception ten years ago, the African Union has become a banner leading African countries in their efforts to strengthen themselves through unity and has made great contribution to promoting peace and development in Africa," he said.

"In recent years, the strategic partnership between China and the African Union has developed in an all-round way, as evidenced by frequent high-level contacts, deepening exchanges and cooperation in all fields and mutual understanding and support to each other on issues concerning our respective major and core interests," he said.

"The African Union Conference and Office Complex, built with China's assistance, is a symbol of our profound friendship that will go down in the history of China-Africa friendly relations," he said.

"To consolidate and grow China's relations with Ethiopia and the African Union serves the fundamental interests of both sides," he said.

During the visit, Jia is scheduled to meet Ethiopian President Girma Wolde Giorgis and hold talks with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Jia will also meet Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, president of Equatorial Guinea and current AU chairman, as well as AU Commission Chairperson Jean Ping, and attend the completion ceremony of the China-funded AU Conference Center, said Liu.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said last week that China hopes Jia's visit will further cement and strengthen China's friendly relations with the AU and Ethiopia, advance bilateral mutual political trust and deepen mutual pragmatic cooperation.

It is also expected that the visit will push forward the constant development of the new China-Africa strategic partnership as well as the China-Ethiopia all-round cooperative partnership, Liu said.