Addis ababa: Germany and Denmark have emphasized cultural diplomacy, people-to-people exchanges, academic cooperation, and green transformation as key pillars of their longstanding partnerships with Ethiopia.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, in a recent interview, Ferdinand von Weyhe, Germany's Deputy Head of Mission, noted that cultural diplomacy and people-to-people relations remain central to the bilateral relationship. He stressed that high-level political engagement should be complemented by direct connections between the peoples of the two countries. Von Weyhe highlighted that cultural diplomacy and cultural exchange are core pillars of Germany's cooperation with Ethiopia, reflected in practical initiatives and institutional partnerships.
Von Weyhe cited several examples of these cooperative ventures, including the German Embassy School in Addis Ababa, the Goethe-Institut, and educational exchanges involving Ethiopian students studying in Germany. He particularly highlighted the longstanding archaeological cooperation between the two countries, with joint research at Yeha, near Adwa in the Tigray Region, where Ethiopian and German archaeologists continue to work together.
The German diplomat also pointed to significant milestones in their diplomatic and cultural ties, such as a recent cultural exchange involving the donation of historical artifacts to the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at Addis Ababa University. These artifacts were donated by descendants of a German diplomat who served in Ethiopia about a century ago.
Meanwhile, Denmark has highlighted green transformation and sustainable economic growth as important areas of its cooperation with Ethiopia. Denmark's Deputy Head of Mission Mirja Crone indicated that the past year had seen significant progress in both Ethiopian government initiatives and Danish-Ethiopian cooperation, particularly in efforts to support a greener and more sustainable economy.
The Danish cooperation involves sharing expertise with Ethiopian companies and professionals, aiming to support sustainable economic development and advance Ethiopia's green transition. The diplomats made these remarks during New Year visits to their respective embassies, organized jointly by the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism as part of efforts to strengthen cultural diplomacy, diplomatic engagement, and people-to-people relations.
The diplomats highlighted the expanding scope of Ethiopia's partnerships with European countries, extending beyond traditional diplomatic engagement to include cultural exchange, education, archaeology, professional cooperation, sustainable development, and green economic transformation.
