Addis Ababa – President Taye Atske‑Selassie met with United Nations Under‑Secretary‑General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua at the National Palace on Thursday. Li, leading a delegation from the UN High‑Level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs, visited Ethiopia to review progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the continent and to explore avenues for regional cooperation.
The two‑hour discussion focused on Ethiopia’s achievements in implementing the 2030 Agenda and on the broader status of the SDGs in Africa. Li described the meeting as “productive” and praised Ethiopia’s development trajectory, highlighting the transformation of Addis Ababa’s urban landscape as a visible indicator of the country’s progress.
Li emphasized that Ethiopia’s development model provides valuable lessons for other low‑ and middle‑income countries seeking to accelerate growth and achieve the SDGs. He reiterated the United Nations’ commitment to working with African governments, civil society and the private sector to fast‑track the 2030 Agenda and to shape the post‑2030 global development framework.
The session was also attended by Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Gatete recalled Addis Ababa’s historic role as host of the 2015 International Conference on Financing for Development, underscoring the city’s long‑standing position as a diplomatic hub for economic policy. He noted that the delegation was “deeply impressed by the holistic growth visible throughout the capital” and thanked President Taye Atske‑Selassie and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for their leadership in driving Ethiopia’s development agenda.
The meeting comes as the UN intensifies its engagement with African partners to monitor SDG implementation and to mobilize resources for the remaining targets. Both parties agreed to maintain close coordination and to explore joint initiatives that could reinforce Ethiopia’s role in regional development and contribute to the continent’s overall progress toward the 2030 goals.
