APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) A Chinese film festival aimed at strengthening the cultural and diplomatic ties between the People’s Republic of china and ethiopia, opened on Friday in Addis Ababa.

The film festival was organized in connection with the 40th anniversary of the Ethiopia-China diplomatic relations and to mark the Chinese lunar New year (Spring Festival).

The film festival was launched following this week’s agreement signed between the two countries enabling them to implement cultural exchange programs from 2010 to 2013.

the Ethiopian Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ambassador Mahmoud Dirir said that the ever growing Ethiopian film industry will draw important lessons from the Chinese experience.

The festival, launched at the Ethiopia-China Polytechnic College in Addis Ababa, will premier various cultural films from China.

The Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia Gu Xiaojie said that the film festival will help enhance people to people relations of the two countries.

The film festival would remain open for the next five days when thousands of people are expected to visit it.

China is currently undertaking billions of dollars worth of investment in Ethiopia as part of its new partnership with Africa.