Addis Ababa, May 9, 2026 (FMC) – Ethiopian President Taye Atske-Selassie held high-level discussions yesterday with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua, at the National Palace.
The Under-Secretary-General is currently in Addis Ababa leading a delegation from the High-Level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs.
The visit focuses on assessing continental progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthening regional partnerships.
Following the meeting, Li Junhua described the discussions as productive, expressing strong admiration for Ethiopia’s current development trajectory.
He specifically noted the remarkable transformation of Addis Ababa’s urban landscape as a reflection of the country’s progress.
The Under-Secretary-General emphasized that Ethiopia’s development experience offers valuable insights for the global community, suggesting it could serve as a reference for other developing countries working toward their growth objectives.
He further reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to working with African stakeholders to accelerate the 2030 Agenda and contribute to shaping the post-2030 global development framework, as reported by a local news agency.
Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Claver Gatete, who also attended the meeting, highlighted Ethiopia’s long-standing role in global development financing.
He recalled that the landmark 2015 International Conference on Financing for Development was held in Addis Ababa, underscoring the city’s status as a hub for international economic policy dialogue.
Claver Gatete also noted that the delegation was deeply impressed by the broad-based development visible across the capital.
He expressed appreciation for the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Taye Atske-Selassie in guiding the country toward these achievements.