Joint Statement by Foreign Ministers of the State of Eritrea and the People’s Republic of China

5 January, 2022, Asmara

1. At the invitation of H.E. Osman Saleh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Eritrea, H.E. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, undertook an official visit to Eritrea from 4 to 5 January 2022. During the visit, State Coucilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi held bilateral talks respectively with Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh and H.E. President Isaias Afwerki.  Both sides had in-depth exchanges of views on various bilateral, regional and international issues of common interest in a cordial and candid manner.

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Urban Transportation: The Case of Asmara

By Simon Woldemichael

Asmara has a functional, accessible, responsive and safe public transportation system. The huge investment in public transport and infrastructure such as roads has made people’s lives easier. The government is importing buses to meet the increasing demand of travelers.

Transport plays a crucial role in urban development by making it easy for people to have access to schools, workplaces, health care facilities, markets, recreational places, and other essential service providers. Enhanced mobility for all is one of the most important preconditions for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Goal 11 of the SDGs aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Read more

Eritrea and China agree to strengthen Strategic Partnership

Asmara, 05 January 2022- President Isaias Afwerki received at State House today Chinese senior delegation led by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Minister Wang Yi conveyed a message of President Xi Jinping to President Isaias inviting him to visit China for extensive talks on the bilateral Strategic Partnership. President Isaias for his part applauded China’s monumental progress in the past 100 years under helm of Communist Party of China to the benefit of Chinese people and the world at large. He also paid tribute to China’s significant role in the advent of balanced global order predicated on respect of international law. Read more

A City in the Clouds, New Year Resolutions & a Night Out in Town

By Natnael Yeibyo

The mist that covered the city a few days ago was quite some scenery. This was not Florence, Paris, New York, Barcelona and nor was it London, Rome or Venice. This is Asmara. The city covered with fog early in the morning looks something out of a Hollywood movie set. Clean boulevards, pantile roofs, palm trees and cafes dotting the sidewalk. It is December and there is a rather festive feel to the cool breeze of air.

Asmara’s famous building — the Fiat Tagliero — built as a garage in 1938 by architect Guiseppe Pettazi once pumped petrol beneath two vast concrete wings. Legend has it that the architect put removable pillars under the wings during construction to hold them steady. Upon completion he then used a gun to force his workers to knock them away. The wings to this very day are still standing still on a building that looks like an airplane than a petrol station. Visit the Tagliero at six in the evening as it turns a golden color against the deep blue evening sky and, possibly for the only time in your life, a garage will leave you breathless. Read more