File photo shows Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) shaking hands with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu during their meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Jan. 3, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu)

ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia has forged a strong partnership with China through cooperation on many areas, a senior Ethiopian official said on Saturday.

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu said Addis Ababa has built a multifaceted and mutually beneficial relationship with Beijing, according to a statement from the Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The statement was made after discussions at a meeting between the Ethiopian foreign minister and visiting Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong.

"China, bilaterally and through the Forum on China Africa Cooperation, has been undertaking fruitful economic partnership aimed at achieving sustainable economic development in the African continent," the statement quoted Gebeyehu as saying.

In January, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also visited Ethiopia and held discussions with various senior Ethiopian government officials, including Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.