Tan Jian (C), Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia and Wang Xingzui (R), CFPA Executive Vice President, unveil the nameplate of China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) Ethiopia office in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, on Sept. 19, 2019. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

China's anti-poverty foundation CFPA has launched an office in Ethiopia to better serve the needs of local communities through its development programs.

ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) has officially launched its office here in Ethiopia.

Speaking at the launching ceremony in the Ethiopian capital on Thursday, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Tan Jian noted that under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chinese enterprises and NGOs in Ethiopia have been working closely together to fulfill corporate social responsibility in local communities, and help promote the friendship between the Chinese and the Ethiopian peoples.

"Today, with the setting up of the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation office, the message is this: in addition to the official support, Chinese civil societies have also joined the campaign, to fight shoulder to shoulder with our Ethiopian brothers and sisters, thus help bring our two peoples closer and strengthen bond," he said.

The ambassador expressed China's commitment to further strengthen cooperation and deepen China-Ethiopia economic and trade relations, and work with all parties to contribute to the sustainable development in Ethiopia.

The foundation has been operating in Ethiopia since 2015 through various development programs in important areas of education, water and women economic empowerment among others.

Debrework Leulseged, Director General of Yenat Weg Charitable Organization, the implementing partner of CFPA for the Smiling Children School Feeding Program, commended the people and government of China as well as CFPA for the "great support that shines light on the lives of the needy students."

Wang Xingzui, CFPA Executive Vice President, said the opening of the CFPA office in Ethiopia and also recruiting local staff would help the foundation enhance its intervention areas and scope based on priorities of the local community.

"We will be able to better assess and understand the true needs of people here and which also means we have better communication with the local community, and better connectivity with local community, with donor communities, and with NGO communities...and based on this need assessment, we can design and implement more projects which means that we will be able to help and assist more needy people than we have done before," he said.

Representatives of CFPA's partners, including Chinese companies and other international organizations, attended the ceremony for the launch of CFPA Ethiopia office.

Speaking on the occasion, Nathnael Geze, a student representative who has benefitted from the Smiling Children School Feeding Program, said thanks to the support of Yenat Weg, he has been able to properly pursue his studies at school.

The China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation has been carrying out programs such as the Smiling Children School Feeding Program, and the Panda Pack Project, Water Cellar Project, School Water Purification Project, and Women Economic Empowerment Program in Ethiopia.■