On May 13, 2017 local time, China Merchants Group Chairman Li Jianhong met in Beijing with Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia who is invited to attend The Belt and Road Forum(BRF) for International Cooperation. China Merchants Group Executive Vice President Hu Jianhua kept company with him.

"The Belt and Road brough us many cooperation opportunities. China Merchants Group is willing to be the engine of industrialization and economic advancement of Ethiopia." said Li Jianhong. Hailemariam Desalegn declared Ethiopia's industry upgrading and industrialization are in full swing, with huge demand on inward investment and settlement of development bottle neck, logistics. Ethiopia and China Merchants Group reached agreement on the building of logistics channel to improve logistics operation efficiency, lower cost, speed up industrialization and create job opportunities with the great experience of CMG in transportation logistics and SOE Reform.