East of Ethiopia

Felegehiwot B. Tesfu, wife of Berhe Seyoum Mesfin, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia's ambassador to China, has visited many beautiful places in China during the past 13 years. [Women of China English Monthly / Zhang Jiamin]

Felegehiwot B. Tesfu, wife of Berhe Seyoum Mesfin, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia's ambassador to China, has visited many beautiful places in China during the past 13 years. Now a resident of Beijing, she takes every opportunity to promote Ethiopia — an independent country, in northeastern Africa, with more than 3,000 years of history — to Chinese.

"I have been to many places … from North to South China during the past 13 years. China has changed so profoundly throughout the years," Tesfu says. "Despite my personal perceptions, I always argue one should try to understand why Chinese society can be organized in such an efficient, and socially desirable, way. In recent years, the economic rebirth in China has helped reveal secrets of the country's wisdom, which has been passed down from ancestors … The combination of knowledge and prosperity is always connected to the future development of China."

Tesfu's husband, Mesfin, has been an Ethiopian politician and diplomat for more than two decades. Mesfin was Ethiopia's foreign minister from 1991 to 2010. Now, in addition to being Ethiopia's ambassador to China, he is an executive member of the Central Committee of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front.

Given the years that she has accompanied her husband from posting to posting, representing her country is not new to Tesfu. "My husband and I have taken pride in earning the public's trust. As the wife of a foreign minister, and then (as the wife of) a diplomat in China, initiative matters the most, regardless of how difficult the challenges …  Our commitment needs to be good and bold," Tesfu says.

The pillars that help support the development of society, in both Ethiopia and China, are strong family ties, pride and courage, she says. "In addition to the core value of showing care, respect and tolerance are both family values (shared by people) in modern China and Ethiopia.

"Take home cooking as an example to show the similarities of the two countries," Tesfu says. "Despite the geographical distance, the preparations and the methods of cooking and serving dishes (that are) made of flour in my home village, in northern Ethiopia, are almost the same compared with the methods of cooking (food made of flour) in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China. What is also interesting is that we share the same traditional musical instrument, the 'harp', and we have similar dancing styles."

Ethiopian women, as citizens of the world, are wonderful mothers and leaders, who influence and inspire people from various nations that share the same goals, says Tesfu. "As members of the global female community, Ethiopian women have strong character traits and the solid integrity to fight humiliation caused by social and/or political inequalities."

In the past, Ethiopian women did not receive the same opportunities — as men — to fulfill their personal development. The situation began to improve in the 1990s. During the past four decades, the struggle by Ethiopian women, who fought for equal rights with their male counterparts, helped pave the way for many achievements, which have become known throughout the world.

"Ethiopian women now hold 25 percent of the seats in parliament. Females are now able to rise to the ranks of high-level decision-makers, such as ministers, ambassadors, public servants and entrepreneurs," Tesfu says. "More than 40 percent of university students are young women. Yet, the institutions are not strong enough (when it comes to) empowering women with all of the basic rights as stipulated in our country's constitution and other legal documents. Hopefully, the appointment of the first-ever Ethiopian female deputy prime minister to office will endorse women's power in politics."

Communications between Ethiopia and China date back to the Aksumite Empire (from the 4th century BC to the 7th century AD, which covered the region of modern-day Ethiopia and eastern Sudan), when the empire developed its economy through trade with the Far Eastern countries, such as India and China. "Cross-border trade along the Silk Road (extending 4,000 miles, the Silk Road derives its name from the lucrative trade of Chinese silk, which began during the Han Dynasty [206 BC – 220 AD]) has left its footprint on the history of Ethiopia. Today, after 44 years of the successful establishment of diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and China, China is the major player in accelerating Ethiopia's industrial transformation," Tesfu says.

The Ethiopian community in China is estimated at 300 people. Most of those people are students or business professionals. Some Ethiopians work for international organizations, such as UNICEF (the Children's Fund under the United Nations) and the World Bank.

Through diplomatic channels, the Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has always worked hard to promote Ethiopia's image to people in China, says Tesfu. "Ethiopia and China have achieved great cooperation by signing bilateral agreements in various fields. The embassy has promoted cooperation through our national day celebrations and various cultural activities. As the wife of the ambassador, I have the support of the embassy to convey the common good (character traits) of Ethiopian people, especially when I attend social gatherings and charitable events," Tesfu says.

"As a country with a civilization that dates back to 3,000 years ago, Ethiopia is the virgin home of wonders. We believe that Lucy (a female Australopithecus from Ethiopia) is the legendary mother of our human race. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, hence the name adopted from the Keffa region. The lowlands of Ethiopia reveal great beauty. For Ethiopians, integrity and national identity matter the most. Ethiopia has been on a high growth trajectory since 2004, and the country continues to enjoy expansion (of its development), particularly in social services and the industrial sectors," Tesfu concludes.

(Source: Women of China English Monthly September 2014 Issue)