Ethiopian students embrace Chinese language amid growing Sino-Ethiopian ties

Addis Ababa: Abdi Waktola, 21, a fourth year Chinese language student at Addis Ababa University (AAU), first became interested in learning Chinese aft...

Addis Ababa: Abdi Waktola, 21, a fourth-year Chinese language student at Addis Ababa University (AAU), first became interested in learning Chinese after meeting Chinese workers a decade ago in his hometown in Ethiopia's Oromia Regional State.

"I was surprised when I heard the hardworking Chinese workers speaking Mandarin (standard Chinese language). It sounded wild to me, but also fascinating.

Since then, my desire to learn Mandarin started to grow," Waktola told Xinhua in a recent interview during celebrations marking Chinese Language Day, an annual observance established by the United Nations in 2010 and held on April 20 each year.

He said his passion for the language was fueled not only by personal interest but also by encouragement from senior university students and the growing demand for Chinese language skills in Ethiopia's job market.

"After learning Chinese, I got involved in various income-generating activities, especially with Chinese companies in Ethiopia. Learning Chinese is very rewarding in a country like Ethiopia, where Chinese investment is on the rise," he said.