The year 2010 marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. China-Ethiopia all-round cooperative partnership continued to deepen and their cooperation in various areas kept strengthening.

The two sides had frequent high-level exchanges and their political mutual trust continued to deepen. On 24 November, President Hu Jintao and President Girma Wolde Giorgis exchanged letters of congratulations in warm celebration of the 40 years of diplomatic ties. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi exchanged congratulatory letters with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on the same day. The two sides held a series of celebration activities. From 12 to 14 April, NPC Vice Chairwoman and Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament Yan Junqi visited Ethiopia. She had meetings with President Girma and Speaker of the House of People's Representatives Teshome Toga and a discussion with the Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development. On 20 July, State Councilor Dai Bingguo visited Ethiopia and met with President Girma and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi separately. Dai called China-Ethiopia relationship a fine example of the friendly relations between China and African countries and said that under the current international situation, the two sides should seize the opportunities to advance cooperation and raise China-Ethiopia all-round cooperative partnership to a new level. Prime Minister Meles said that Ethiopia's cooperation with China was moving along a very positive track, and that Ethiopia appreciated China's selfless assistance over the years and was ready to strengthen cooperation with China, speed up the implementation of the agreed cooperation projects and elevate bilateral cooperation to a new high. The two sides signed the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. In June, Speaker of the House of the Federation Degefe Bula visited China. NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo and CPPCC Chairman Jia Qinglin met with him separately. In June, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin paid a working visit to China. Foreign Minister Yang had talks with him. In April, Ethiopian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Tekeda Alemu came to China for political consultations between the two foreign ministries with Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun.

Exchanges between political parties and government agencies continued to increase. In September, Alternate Member of CPC Central Committee and Deputy Party Secretary of Chongqing Municipality Zhang Xuan attended the Eighth Organizational Congress of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) as the representative of the Communist Party of China. In October, Vice Minister of the CPC International Department Ai Ping led a CPC delegation to Ethiopia on a good-will visit. The two sides signed the MOU on Exchange and Cooperation Between the CPC and the EPRDF. In April, Ethiopian Minister of Finance and Economic Development Sufian Ahmed visited China. In October, several Ethiopian ministerial officials attended the Workshop on Leadership Capacity Building for Ethiopian State Ministerial Officials in China. In November, a study group of EPRDF visited China.

The two countries supported each other on issues concerning their respective major interests and had close cooperation in international affairs. In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Yushu of Qinghai Province and the massive mudslide in Zhouqu of Gansu Province, President Girma sent a letter to President Hu to express condolences.

Bilateral economic cooperation and trade grew rapidly. Ethiopia has become one of the important partners of China in Africa in project contracting and economic cooperation and trade. In January, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming visited Ethiopia. China-Ethiopia package loan cooperation made steady progress. The outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) were implemented smoothly. The two sides are stepping up communication and coordination on the implementation of the eight new policy measures on assistance to Africa announced at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of FOCAC.

Exchanges and cooperation in other fields between the two countries deepened. In February, Vice Minister of Education Li Weihong led a Chinese education delegation to Ethiopia and attended the inauguration ceremony of the first Confucius Institute in Ethiopia. In April, Vice Minister of Health Yin Li visited Ethiopia. In June, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Ethiopia General Samora Yenus visited China. In September, Ethiopian Minister of Culture and Tourism Mohamoud Dirir Gheddi visited China and attended the National Pavilion Day of Ethiopia at the Shanghai Expo. In March, the Red Cross Society of China provided US$30,000 of emergency humanitarian cash assistance to Ethiopia.