Addis Ababa, May.18(ENA)--Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Addisu Legesse said Ethiopia could draw a lesson from China in the area of rural development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Addisu said Ethiopia is desirous to strengthen its cooperation with China in the agricultural sector, the Ministry said in a statement it sent to ENA on Tuesday.

The Deputy Prime Minister who is currently visiting China made the remark while conferring with the Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Hui Liangu on May 14,2004.

Particularly, Addisu said, Ethiopia wants to draw lesson from Chinese experiences in food security sector.

He also stressed the need to consolidate trade and investment ties between the two countries and create conducive situations to encourage Chinese companies to invest in Ethiopia.

Addisu said the visit made by Ethiopian entrepreneurs engaged in leather manufacturing sector has enabled them to draw lesson from the experience of their Chinese counterparts.

After concluding the eight-day working visit to China, the delegation would leave for Vietnam for similar visit, according to the Ethiopian Embassy in Beijing.