Ethiopian Minister of Industry Melaku Alebel, Luo Zhaohui, Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) and DG Gerd Müller

Beijing, 12 July 2024 – During his mission to China, UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller, Luo Zhaohui, Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), and Ethiopian Minister of Industry Melaku Alebel officially inaugurated the China-Africa-UNIDO Centre of Excellence located in Addis Ababa. The centre is a pioneering tripartite initiative, to promote sustainable industrialization, agricultural modernization, and skills development across Africa. The initiative is the first tripartite flagship program of its kind, between Ethiopia, CIDCA and the UN agency.

In his address, Director General Müller emphasized the significance of the centre, stating: "The Centre of Excellence symbolizes a new era of cooperation and innovation, bringing cutting-edge low-carbon technologies and expertise to Africa." Luo Zhaohui highlighted that the centre is a key implementation of President Xi Jinping's initiatives to support African development. Melaku Alebel stressed Ethiopia’s commitment to sustainable development and appreciated the support and cooperation with China and UNIDO.

The Joint Declaration for the Centre of Excellence Programme that was signed on this occasion highlights the ambitions for a long-term development of the programme. The Centre aims to align with strategic frameworks such as the African Union's Agenda 2063 and Ethiopia's Ten-Year Development Plan, contributing to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As part of the overall programme, Director General Müller signed agreements with CIDCA for two major projects in Ethiopia which will support mechanized agriculture systems and upgrade the national livestock value chain, improving the agri-business sector and increasing market access in Ethiopia.

Müller also participated in the Second High-Level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development, hosted by CIDCA. In his keynote speech, he emphasized the critical role of sustainable industrial development in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, stressing that sustainable industrialization is a key factor in ending hunger and poverty, providing clean energy for all, and ensuring environmental protection and climate change mitigation.

During his visit to Beijing, Müller held strategic discussions with Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen. The meetings, held in a collective and bilateral format respectively, focused on enhancing the partnership between UNIDO and China, particularly under the frameworks of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, contributing to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals. Expressing gratitude for China’s strong support, Müller emphasized the country's significant contributions to UNIDO’s global mission and highlighted the strengthened collaboration in promoting sustainable economic and industrial development.

To strengthen cooperation with academia, UNIDO Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director Ciyong Zou signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNIDO and Tsinghua University. Tsinghua University is one of the world's top universities, ranked 16 in the World University Rankings 2023. The MoU covers joint initiatives in talent exchange, green hydrogen research, artificial intelligence, and digital and industrial policy capacity building. UNIDO’s Müller: "This partnership with Tsinghua University bridges the gap between academia and industry, fostering innovation and capacity building,"

Prior to his visit to Beijing, Director General Müller visited BYD Automobile in Xi'an. The visit focused on exploring potential cooperation in green technology, renewable energy, and sustainable urban transport systems, in line with UNIDO’s commitment to promoting sustainable industrial practices and reducing carbon emissions.

Director General Müller’s mission to China underscores UNIDO’s dedication to fostering global partnerships for sustainable development, leveraging technology and innovation to address pressing global challenges.