Naveed Ahmad Khan Photo by Raja Farid
Islamabad: Senior Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader Khawaja Muhammad Asif said “The main objective of Pakistan’s government for enhancing cooperation with African countries is the expansion of trade with the African leading economies such as Addis Ababa”. He talks to the Daily Spokesman on the occasion of Adwa’s victory day.
The Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Tuesday celebrated the 128th Adwa victory day in Islamabad in the presence of a large number of government officials from different Ministries and Armed Forces, members of Parliament, the diplomatic corps, the business community, the civil society, media, and above all Ethiopian Diaspora in Pakistan.
Governor Sindh H.E. Kamran Tessori was the guest of honor at the ceremony and Former information minister Murtuza Solangi also attended the event.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the Chief Guest on the occasion, congratulated the people of Ethiopia and Africa on the Adwa victory day.
He also stressed the need for the Pakistani business community to explore African markets, especially through Ethiopia, which was a gateway to the African continent.
Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Jemal Beker Abdula, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the FDRE to Pakistan, extended his felicitations to the whole of Africa, especially the people of Ethiopia, on the occasion of 128th Adwa Victory Day commemorated under the theme of “Adwa Black People’s Victory”.
He expressed gratitude to the people of Pakistan for gracing the 128th anniversary of the Black People’s Victory in such a large number.
H.E. Ambassador Jemal Beker briefed the honorable participants in Islamabad on the historical role played by the Adwa battle in igniting movements for freedom, equality, and liberty in the whole of Africa and other continents against colonization.
On March 2, 1896, a united Ethiopia achieved the biggest victory in the battlefield against the invading forces which, indeed, changed the course of history, humanity, and political and social narration at the global level, the ambassador noted.
Adwa’s victory is an inspiration and spirit of Pan-Africanism that ignited anti-colonial movements all across the world, the ambassador remarked.
The Adwa victory symbolized Ethiopian unity and pan-Africanism, he said while highlighting the major initiatives of the reformist Government of Ethiopia that further fostered regional integration in the region.
He said Ethiopia had built Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam which would further promote regional integration through energy export. Ethiopia was already sharing its resources with the people of neighboring countries and would continue to do so.
The ambassador said the Green Legacy Initiative of H.E. Dr. Abi Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, was also another major initiative of the government to boost collaboration with regional countries in mitigating global issues like climate change and food insecurity.
32.5 billion seedlings of different fruits, plants, trees, and animal feed were planted during the last four years under the Green Legacy campaign, he added.
The ambassador also expressed resolve to further strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries through economic diplomacy.
He announced Hijra Trip II, another business delegation of the Pakistani business community to Ethiopia this year, to boost trade between the two countries.
Last year, the Embassy of Ethiopia mobilized a historic delegation of 75 business persons to Ethiopia, the ambassador added.