Ethiopia appoints diplomat to consulate in Guangzhou, China

ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has appointed Teferi Meles as Consul General in China's southern city of Guangzhou, a statement from the ministry said on Tuesday.

The appointment of Meles is part of Ethiopia's wider shakeup that puts more focus on its relationship with important economic partners in the Middle East and Asia.

The MoFA also appointed Wahde Belay as Consul General in Beirut, Demeke Atnafu as Consul General in India.

Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong Province, is a prime destination for Ethiopian businesspeople. Firms from Guangzhou have also set up manufacturing plants and formed business partnership in Ethiopia.

It is also one of the five Chinese destinations of Ethiopia's national carrier Ethiopian Airlines. The other four are Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Chengdu.