The Ethiopian embassy in Beijing held an event on Thursday to mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and China.
Ambassadors from more than 60 countries attended the event.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Ethiopian Ambassador to China Tefera Derbew Yimam shared his views on China-Ethiopia relations and expressed the hope for further exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
"Our bilateral relationship is deep-rooted and is based on mutual trust, respect and equality. The two countries have enjoyed their bilateral relationship over the past 55 years. Today, we are celebrating this strong, deep-rooted partnership so that we can use the existing solid foundation for further engagement, for further partnership," he said.
According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the relationship between China and Ethiopia has evolved since the landmark visit by Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie to Beijing in 1971. Over the past more than five decades, relations between China and Ethiopia have been strengthened on the basis of the principles of equality, non-interference and mutual benefit.
"We can see how Ethiopia is taking off through its cooperation, very productive and fruitful cooperation with China. So, we are so proud of it as Africans, but as well as friends of China, so as diplomats and Dean of the African group," said Martin Mpana, Cameroonian Ambassador to China.
Siddharth Chatterjee, U.N. Resident Coordinator in China, said he visited Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa about 20 years ago, gaining a firsthand understanding of the country's development. Speaking to the CGTN, he highlighted the relations between China and Ethiopia as a reflection of the broader relations between China and Africa.
"As a matter of fact, Ethiopia epitomizes the microcosm of the China Africa relationship. I have seen first-hand the kind of progress Ethiopia has made. And I went to Addis Ababa for the first time in 2001. I've seen the real effects of the Belt and Road Initiative, and how it's transformed the entire landscape in Ethiopia. So, in many ways, I welcome this sort of partnership that China has with Africa. As far as the United Nations is concerned, we want to see Africa progress," he said.
Ethiopian embassy marks 55 years of diplomatic relations with China
From cutting-edge technology exhibitions to retail stores thousands of kilometers away from Europe and Southeast Asia, China-made robot vacuum cleaners are increasingly becoming a popular choice among consumers worldwide.
At electronics retailers in Berlin, Germany, Chinese brands such as Roborock and Dreame occupy prominent positions in dedicated robot vacuum sections, offering a wide range of products priced between 200 and 2,000 euros.
Many local consumers said that when purchasing smart home appliances including robot vacuum cleaners, they tend to give priority to Chinese-made products.
"It's a good price and good quality. It's also the innovation. I have a feeling that the European brands are not innovating enough," said one customer.
"I think they're always on top of the other technologies. They are getting them out faster. A lot of us are switching to the Chinese technology," another consumer said.
Germany is one of the most important overseas markets for China's floor-cleaning robots.
According to data from market research firm GfK, from January to November 2025, more than six out of 10 robot vacuum cleaners sold in Western Europe were Chinese brands.
Industry data also point to a strong global momentum.
According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), global shipments of smart robot vacuum cleaners reached 17.424 million units in the first three quarters of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 18.7 percent.
Chinese brands including Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, Xiaomi and Narwal ranked among the world's top five in terms of shipment volume, with a combined share of nearly 70 percent of the global market.
At a robot vacuum cleaner manufacturing plant in Huizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, workers were seen stepping up production of newly launched models that recently debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in the United States, which concluded Friday in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The factory adjusted its production lines as early as December 2025 and stocked inventory in advance for overseas markets to ensure that new products could be delivered to global consumers at the earliest possible time.
"In 2025, Roborock's global shipments exceeded 7.2 million units. Since 2024, overseas revenue has accounted for more than 50 percent of our total revenue. Our products have now been sold to more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than 20 million households worldwide," said Quan Gang, president of Roborock.
At another robot vacuum cleaner manufacturing facility in Dongguan, Guangdong, rising overseas orders have prompted the company to upgrade its production lines with intelligent technologies to further boost capacity. The factory is currently operating at full load to meet a growing demand.
"For 2026, we have already obtained overseas orders worth at least 300 million to 400 million yuan (around 43 million to 57.3 million U.S. dollars). In addition, we've engaged in strategic cooperation with European home appliance group Cebos Group, and our total confirmed orders have exceeded 600 million yuan (around 86 million U.S. dollars)," said Zhang Junbin, founder and CEO of Narwal Robotics.
Chinese robot vacuum brands gain strong global traction
