Ethiopian National Bank Governor Eyob Tekalign Leads Delegation to China for Debt Negotiations

Ethiomonitor -Addis Ababa 

September 23, 2025 

Ethiopia has a senior-level delegation in China this week for crucial talks on debt re-structuring and to further strengthen economic relations, state media says.
The delegation is led by Eyob Tekalign) (PhD) the new governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia.
During the visit, the delegation will hold meetings with senior officials at China’s Ministry of Finance, People’s Bank of China, and Exim Bank, and senior officials from key commercial and financial institutions. The mission is aimed at following up on the recently signed debt restructuring agreement with the Official Creditors Committee co-chaired by China and France, and ensure debt restructuring of Ethiopia.
Further, the delegation will report to their Chinese counterparts on the achievements of the Home-Grown Economic Reform Agenda of Ethiopia, explore possible investment opportunities, and reaffirm Addis Ababa’s commitment to deepening its cooperation with Beijing.
A joint review by the World Bank and the IMF a week ago labeled Ethiopia’s external debt as “unsustainable,” a record that the country has been in trouble since it missed a Eurobond interest payment in December 2023.
The report, supported by both institutions’ top officials, cited repeated violations of external debt conditions related to exports and characterized the debt-carrying capacity of Ethiopia as weak.
The authorities added that the mission represents the historic relationship between China and Ethiopia, indicating both nations’ shared aspiration to strengthen economic ties and opening the way for future collaboration.