A delegation of the Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IAE CAS) led by Yunting Fang, deputy director of IAE CAS, visited Ethiopia from January 20 to 29, 2024.

During their visit, the delegation met with the leaders and selected staff of the Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO), Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI), Addis Ababa University (AAU), Oda Bultum University (OBU), and Ambo University (AU), respectively, and visited several research centers and laboratories affiliated.

During the meetings, the two sides exchanged views on research collaboration areas such as agriculture, ecology and environment, staff visits and training, joint postgraduate training, sponsoring international workshops, laboratory technical support. The delegation further specified the implementation plan of the previously signed MoU with IQQO. In addition, new collaborations were also established by signing MoU with OBU and AU, respectively. Furthermore, the delegation of IAE and leaders of EBI, EIAR, and AAU agreed to continue discussion to identify specific areas of collaboration and thereby sign MoU to work together once consensus has been achieved.

Ethiopia, officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is located in East Africa, the center of the "African Horn". It is renowned for its rich and diverse biological resources. Ethiopia’s economy is deep-rooted in the agriculture sector; however, the technical foundation in agriculture is relatively weak. Ethiopia’s ecosystem faces threaten from natural and human-induced factors including over-grazing, deforestation, and climate changes. As a result, agricultural modernization, ecosystem restoration and protection are identified as the priority areas for cooperation between the two sides.