Former Ethiopian President Mulatu said in an interview that the Addis Ababa railway project under the Belt and Road Initiative has opened up a good road to modernization for Ethiopia. He believes that the development of industrial zones or free trade zones along the railway can be concentrated, which is a promising investment. In response to the so-called "debt trap" rhetoric on China-Africa cooperation, Mulatu said those people have not given Africa a penny.

The Addis Ababa Railway is a railway project connecting Ethiopia and Djibouti, which is one of the important projects under the Belt and Road Initiative. The completion of this railway has not only brought convenience of transportation to Ethiopia, but also promoted the economic development of the country. The areas along the line can use the convenience of the railway to attract investment, develop industry and trade, and thus promote the modernization process of the whole country.

Mulatu said those who speak of a "debt trap" against China-Africa cooperation are those who have not given Africa a penny. In fact, China-Africa cooperation is a mutually beneficial and win-win way of cooperation, and the loans and assistance provided by China are intended to help African countries achieve economic development and modernization. Such cooperation is not only conducive to the development of African countries, but also conducive to China's economic development and global influence. Editor/Xu Shengpeng