STORY: Ethiopian tour guides embark on Chinese language training program
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 26, 2024
DATELINE: Nov. 28, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:36
LOCATION: Addis Ababa
CATEGORY: CULTURE/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the launching ceremony of the Chinese language training program
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SELAMAWIT KASSA, Ethiopian Minister of Tourism
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CHEN HAI, Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ENDY ASSEFA, President of Ethiopian Tourist Guides Professional Association
5. various of the Chinese language training program

STORYLINE:

The Ethiopian Ministry of Tourism and the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia on Tuesday launched a Chinese language training program for Ethiopia's professional tour guides.

The program, offered by the Confucius Institute at Addis Ababa University, aims to help some 60 tour guides gain basic Chinese language proficiency in the next three weeks.

Addressing the launch ceremony in Addis Ababa, the capital, Ethiopian Minister of Tourism Selamawit Kassa said the training program will help improve services for Chinese tourists visiting Ethiopia.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SELAMAWIT KASSA, Ethiopian Minister of Tourism
"Today, the Chinese Embassy is providing us with this long-awaited Mandarin language training for our national tour guides, which I believe will be a very new insight for the industry. We assume this as an excellent start to assist our ministry to achieve its plan of making the Chinese market one of our core markets."

Chen Hai, Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia, said the tourism industry plays an important role in promoting the economic and social development of both China and Ethiopia.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CHEN HAI, Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia
"Tour guides speaking foreign languages are considered valuable talents in developing a country's inbound tourism, so it is expected that this training class could help more Ethiopian tour guides not only acquire Chinese language but also learn Chinese culture, so that my friends -- you could offer better services to Chinese tourists by telling vivid stories, interesting stories and exciting stories of Ethiopia, contributing more to the tourism cooperation and exchanges between our two countries."

Endy Assefa, president of the Ethiopian Tourist Guides Professional Association, described the training program as a significant opportunity for Ethiopian professional tour guides.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ENDY ASSEFA, President of Ethiopian Tourist Guides Professional Association
"The initiative marks a new chapter in the history of our profession and of course our nation's tourism industry. Tourist guides are the storytellers of a country. Tourist guides are the ambassadors of a country. We are the first point of contact for visitors, shaping their perception and ensuring they leave with unforgettable memories. China is more than a market. It is a gateway to the future. By learning the Chinese language, we are not just acquiring skills, but also, we are building bridges for cultural exchange, understanding, and growth. Through tourism, we will exchange stories, ideas, and values, strengthening the people-to-people connections that make nations thrive."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa.
(XHTV)