On July 28th, 2017, the Chinese Mission to the African Union and the Chinese Embassy to Ethiopia jointly held a grand reception at Hilton Hotel, Addis Ababa, in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. Mr. Johannes, State Minister of the Ethiopian Ministry of National Defense, Mr. Quartey, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Mr. Bam, Acting Director of the Peace and Security Department of the African Union Commission, members of the diplomatic corps attended the event hosted by Sr. Colonel Chen Yong, Defense Adviser of the Chinese Mission to AU and Sr. Colonel Zhao Bao, Defense Attaché to Ethiopia. H.E. Mr. Kuang Weilin, Chinese Ambassador to the African Union and H.E. Mr. La Yifan, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, diplomats from both the Chinese Mission and Embassy, Chinese Medical Team and Military Medical Team in Addis Ababa, representatives of the Chinese enterprises in Ethiopia were also among the 400 plus guests present.
In his speech, Sr. Colonel Chen Yong, the chief host of tonight’s reception, reviewed the extraordinary achievements that the PLA has achieved in its self-development over the past 9 decades, introduced the progresses and goals of the ongoing reform in China’s national defense and armed forces, and emphasized the significance of the “Belt and Road” Initiative, the concept of mankind as “a community of shared future” and the vision of “common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security” put forth by H.E. Chinese President Xi Jinping. He also highly commended the important role that the African Union and Ethiopia have respectively played in maintaining regional peace, and reiterated China’s commitment to working with the African Union, Ethiopia and all other African countries to promote peace and create prosperity in Africa. Guests from different backgrounds also commended China’s contributions to world peace, and expected China to play a greater role in Africa’s peace and development endeavors.
The reception also featured a photo gallery tracing the 9-decade journey that the PLA has taken and an introductory film of the PLA today.