On Sunday, top military leaders from China and Ethiopia committed to deepening their military partnership. Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Chief of General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), is leading a high-ranking delegation to the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.
The forum, themed “Promoting Peace for a Shared Future,” is drawing a record number of participants, with over 100 countries and organizations in attendance. This year’s discussions will focus on key issues such as regional stability, global security, and cutting-edge defense technologies.
Outside the main sessions, Field Marshal Birhanu and General Liu Zhenli, Chief of Staff of the CMC Joint Staff Department and a member of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), met to discuss future collaborations. Their discussions resulted in an agreement to work together on military equipment procurement, Fifth-Generation Warfare (5GW), technology transfer, and enhancing military capabilities.
According to the ENDF’s social media accounts, the two leaders have committed to unprecedented levels of cooperation between their military forces. Additionally, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize their commitments and initiate collaborative efforts.
Tefera Derbew, Ethiopia’s ambassador to China, stated that the participation of the Ethiopian delegation in the forum and subsequent meetings is expected to bolster the strength of Ethiopia’s defense forces.