If the shoe fits then wear it

Ethiopia's exports to China, including one of its principal exports - sesame seeds - make up just $300 million with Chinese exports to Ethiopia contributing $1.5 billion.

This growing trade was evidenced in December when more than 150 Chinese companies exhibited at the 2013 (Africa) China Commodities, Technology & Service Expo at the Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa, which was seen as a landmark event.

Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, said on a visit to Addis Ababa earlier this month that he would like to deepen the trade relationship, particularly with agricultural products and textiles.

"Many Chinese textile and agricultural products companies are looking to expand their businesses overseas, and Africa is their best destination. I hope Chinese companies can help Africa to accelerate its industrialization process," he said.

This accords with the Ethiopian government's plan to increase employment in its domestic textile industry tenfold to 500,000 within the next two years.

Qin Jian, deputy head of mission at the Chinese embassy in Addis Ababa, says China has advantages over Western countries when trading with Ethiopia, particularly in such areas as lower-cost machinery and heavy engineering.

Qin, who was speaking at the ambassador's residence in a leafy area of the city, believes that China has played a key role in Ethiopia's development.

"Chinese companies are really familiar to people here. They have played a large part in developing infrastructure, which Ethiopians see as ensuring their well-being and sustainable long-term development."

He believes the China-Ethiopia relationship gives the lie to accusations in the West that China only wants to grab Africa's resources and become a new colonial power.

"Nowadays the Western media tries to demonize China-Africa relations and only report the bad side such as supposed violations of natural resources. Ethiopia is a non-natural resource country but we have large-scale investment," he says.

Over at the sprawling campus of the University of Addis Ababa, one of Africa's leading academic institutions, Alemayehu Geda, a professor of economics, says there are a number of reasons why China sees Ethiopia as an important economic and political partner.

"It is a huge potential market for a start. It has a population of more than 80 million, making it the second most populous country in Africa.

"The country has always been politically active across the continent, even before the African Union was based in the city. If you have good relations with the Ethiopian leadership you can network the rest of the country."

Geda also says that Ethiopia is increasingly acting as a shop window for Chinese infrastructure expertise.

"Because of the African Union, there are a lot of political visitors. They can see things such as the electric rail that is being built and they might think to themselves that they would like one of those in their own country," he adds.