Addis Ababa, October 29, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s Minister of Justice, Hanna Araya-Selassie, emphasized the pivotal role of prosecutors in safeguarding justice and upholding the rule of law, as the China–Africa Prosecutorial Cooperation Forum opened today in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Minister Hanna led an Ethiopian delegation to China and is participating in the forum, where she also held sideline meetings with various officials.
The high-level forum brought together Attorney Generals and senior judicial representatives from Ethiopia, Algeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
In her remarks, Minister Hanna highlighted that the forum provides a strategic platform to strengthen collaboration between African nations and China. She noted that relations between the two sides have evolved through sustained economic cooperation and political partnerships grounded in mutual respect and shared development objectives.
Minister Hanna described the gathering as a timely opportunity for experience sharing and dialogue, emphasizing that prosecutorial independence and dedication to truth-seeking and fair administration of justice are fundamental to achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16, which promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions.
Speaking at the event, Chen Wenqing, Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, underscored the importance of legal and judicial cooperation as a cornerstone for national modernization. He highlighted that respect for the rule of law is essential for development and stability and called for closer collaboration and exchange of best practices between China and African nations.
According to Ethiopia’s Ministry of Justice, the forum is expected to deepen mutual understanding, foster prosecutorial cooperation, and enhance the rule of law across the China–Africa partnership framework.