(Yicai Global) July 24 -- Ethiopia is trying to build itself as Africa's aviation hub, and hopes to achieve this goal through strengthened cooperation with China in the aviation industry, Ethiopian minister of transport Ahmed Sid was quoted yesterday by state-run Xinhua News Agency as saying.

Aviation collaboration is a pillar of bilateral ties between China and Ethiopia, Sid said, noting China is trying to establish itself as a major aircraft manufacturer in the world and that Ethiopia looks forward to becoming an important client of China in future.

Ethiopian Airlines currently operates round-trip flights to and from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong as it regards China as one of its key destinations.  A Chinese company is currently contracted to build extensions on Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport. The annual passenger throughput of the extended airport is projected to increase from seven million to 22 million.

Ethiopia's minister of transport Sid said his country plans to build a new international airport in the suburbs of the capital city, Addis Ababa, to consolidate its aviation industry. The project will cost USD3 billion, and the maximum passenger throughput is projected to be around 100 million a year. Ethiopia hopes that China will cooperate with the eastern African country in this project.

As China-Africa economic and trade ties have strengthened in recent years, Ethiopia has become an important transfer stop for Chinese travelers visiting other African nations.