Ethiopia, France sign cooperation agreements to strengthen ties (March 13, 2019)

Ethiopia and France yesterday signed three cooperation agreements to strengthen their relations.
The signing of the agreements comes following the visit of French President Emanuel Macron to Addis Ababa.
Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed and President Macron presided over the signing of cooperation agreements between the two countries.
Engineer Aisha Mohammed Minister of Defence signed the defense cooperation agreement which covers training, capacity building and a strategic level exchanges.
Similarly Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance signed the MoU on the promotion of French investments in Ethiopia, the joint declaration on the financial support to the economic transition and the joint declaration on the heritage cooperation.
The two countries also signed agreement on space cooperation initiated by the private sector on the sidelines of the state visit by the President Macron.
The French President also held talks with President Sahle-Work Zewde on further deepening the all-rounded bilateral relations between the two countries.
Earlier yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed and President Macron visited the Rock-Hewn churches of Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in Lalibela, Amhara regional state.
During Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed’s visit to Paris last October, France agreed to provide support to protect and preserve the Lalibela churches.
President Emmanuel Macron earlier today concluded his two-day state visit to Ethiopia.
Prime Minister Dr Aby Ahmed has seen off the French President at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.
The two countries have enjoyed strong diplomatic relations since 1897.